NBC staff cuts likely?
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SERVICE CUTS would inevitably result in some redundancies—that is what National Bus Company chief executive Mr Jim Skyrme told a House of Commons Select Committee last week. NBC chairman Mr Freddie Wood said that the basic problems of the company would not be altered by any detail changes in the accounting methods.
At present the NBC is alone among the nationalised industries in having to repay interest-bearing loans.
The Select Committee was making the first inquiry into the accounts of nationalised. It pressed the NBC to reveal the accounts for each of the constituent companies in its next annual report after Mr Wood had disclosed that at present only Southern Vectis Cumberland Motor Services made a profit.
"Without an element of public service the NBC would close down altogether," said Mr Wood when asked what companies he would like to dispose of The committee also raised the question of free fares with local authorities supporting the operating costs. "We have a great deal of difficulty in persuading local authorities to contribute just 10 per cent towards operation of services," replied Mr Skyrme.