Labour May Follow "Partial Acquisition" Policy
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BY OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
I ABOUR'S future policy on road haulage may undergo a change that " will bring it into line with the " partial acquisition" policy already planned for other sections of industry. In these, the Labour plan is to -have competition between State and private undertakings. But C-licensees would have to prove need for their vehicles.
I discussed the matter this week with Mr. Ernest Davies (Lab., Enfield E.), chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party's Transport Group and frontbench, spokesman, with Mr. George Strauss, on transport matters. He was giving his personal views. but they carry conviction. • .
He-has said in the House that it may be enough to give British Road Services power -Ito acquire" such 'road haulage companies as they select, either by negotiation or compulsory purchase. The balance would be left to private enterprise. This policy would be in line with the Labour Party's scheme for partial nationalization through the acquisitionof shares for the purpose of sustaining competition.
Mr. Davies believes that there is some scope for both public and private enterprise in road haulage, as private transport frequently gives more personal and specialized service.
It is almost certain that the Labour Party would review the present licensing system to exercise greater control over C-licence holders, who will have to prove that alternative forms of public transport are not available or are unsuitable.
Statements by Labour spokesmen in the House of Commons that when road haulage is renationalized, compensation will not .be paid twice, still stand. Those who bought B.R.S. vehicles will, receive not more than their asset value, There. will be no compensation for the transfer of goodwill.
The Labour Party's road transport policy." says Mr. Davies, "cannotbe separated from its general transport policy. The 1947 Act aimed at the creation of a transport monopoly. This did not entirely succeed because nationalization was hot comprehensive, a large section of road passenger transport being left out, as well as the C licences.
"Since then, Labout thinking has tended to move away from monopoly, and although it is likely that-the British Transport Commission would be given greater powers to acquire those sections now outside, it is doubtful whether, certainly in the initial. stages, any attempt would be made to re-create a transport monopoly on the 1947 lines."