RHA should make its mind up, says NIP
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• Tougher checks on applicants for operators' licences are being demanded by Mr Leslie Huckfield, Labour MP for Nuneaton.
"I would support a tightening up of the whole procedure," said Mr Huckfield. "I would like to see people who apply for operators' licences thoroughly investigated and their financial background gone into."
Mr Huckfield said that according to the statistics any "Tom, Dick, or Harry" could get a licence. "Very few applications for operators' licences are turned down,” he added.
In a Commons question to Mr John Peyton, Mr Huckfield asks what representations have been received from the Road Haulage Association, trade associations and trade unions about the working of the present system.
"I think the Road Haulage Association is going daft," Mr Huckfield said. "At their annual dinner recently Mr Peyton told them so in so many words. They cannot make up their minds whether they want free competition or restrictions."
In 1964 the RHA had thrown up their hands in. horror at the Geddes Committee proposals for free competition. Later, when Mrs Castle proposed quantity licensing, the Association was again horrified.
"Now they are changing their mind again and want free competition. They want to get back to the distinction between public and private carriers — the old A, B, C licences," Mr Huckfield claimed.
"I hope the Minister will tell us what reply he has sent to the Association's latest representations," he said.