THERE are going to be a lot of red faces
Page 7
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around when the Price Commission publishes its report on the road haulage industry.
And Roy Hattersley, Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, who ordered the investigation, is confident that his complexion will retain its usual hue — for he is pretty sure the industry's efficiency and competitiveness is not all it is cracked up to be.
Increased charges
He exuded confidence when called on to account for his action in the Commons. As he pointed out, in addition to the industry's cost and price structure, there was the likelihood that increased freight charges would ultimately affect a wider range of prices.
No fool, this man Hattersley. He has seen — if only faintly — a truth which has escaped his colleagues every time lorry owners have moaned that dearer fuel and licences mean, that a lot of other prices have to go up as well.
More facing the facts came from Laurie Pavitt, who represents South Brent, but likes to be known as the MP for Grunwick.
It was, he said, nonsense that the profitable part of the transport industry was run entirely by private enterprise, while rail haulage had to be subsidised. His answer — nationalise the lot.
He was gently corrected by the Minister, who reminded him of the National Freight Corporation, but conceded that the MP was "right in the basic thrust of his point."
Referring to ... who?
He and his Right Honourable Friend would want to draw some conclusions when the report was published, added Mr Hattersley. leaving one wondering whether he was referring to the Premier, the Chancellor or the Transport Minister.
Tory Robert Adley tried to clear up another mystery. Did Mr Hattersley still support nationalisation of road haulage?
"1 do not want to say anything that prejudices my response to the report" was the answer — either a non-sequitur or a keeping open of options.
Pretty girls
And so it ended, with not a single champion of road haulage suggesting that as the investigation was to be carried out it should be handed over to those attractive girls with clip-boards who, a few minutes earlier, had been warned off the streets for pretending to be market researchers when they were really hunting potential customers for insurance or savings plans.