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Road-transport Topics in Parliament

19th November 1943
Page 32
Page 32, 19th November 1943 — Road-transport Topics in Parliament
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent

EXPERIENCE NEEDED OF BUSES ON PRODUCER GAS I N view of the fact that gas-driven

buses are slower and make greater demands on the limited supply of vehicles and transport personnel, Mr. Touche asked whether the M.O.W.T. would, having regard to the present fuel situation, authorize the use of more petrol buses,

In reply, Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the M.O.W.T., said that careful considera

tion had been, given to this matter; but the Minister was satisfied that the need for obtaining experience in the operation of buses on producer gas outweighed any additional demands on personnel and vehicles.

EMPTY RUNNING ON SUGAR TRANSPORT WHEN asked by Mr. Magnay why VY road-transport vehicles had been directed by the haulage organization of his Department to Bury St. Edmunds to pick up sugar for carriage to Ipswich for transference to coastwise shipping to London, the vehicles then receiving instructions to return empty to London, Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker replied that the refinery to which this raw` sugar was consigned could only accept its delivery by water. Mi. Magnay then asked whether the Ministry thought it advisable, in view of the demand for economy in tyres and fuel, to run these lorries from

Ipswich to London 6/1 miles—without a load every time. Mr. Noel-Baker said that every effort is made to back-load these

vehicles, but, unfortunately, • the refinery cannot accept sugar by road, although arrangements by which this can be done are being considered, but at present have not been completed. "NEGLIGENT DRIVING " OF U.S. SERVICE VEHICLES TO the Secretary of State for ForeignAffairs was addressed this question by Mr. G. H. Oliver ; Had his attention been drawn to the position of civilians injured in road accidents by the negligent driving of American Service vehicles, and the refusal of the Commanding Officer of the American Forces in this country to submit cases to the jurisdiction of the civil courts? He also asked whether any steps had been taken to obtain a satisfactory settlement of this matter with the U.S. Government.

Mr. Richard Law replied to the effect that these matters are under active discussion with the United States authorities, and he did not think it would be wise to enter into the subject.

TYRE EQUIPMENT FOR LONG-DISTANCE HAULAGE

AS' we have a surplus of rubber in this country, Mr. Ian Hannah questioned why long-distance hauliers are compelled to purchase part-worn, retreaded, and other tyres normally considered unserviceable.

Mr. Oliver Lyttelton, Minister of Production, said that the supplies of natural rubber in the British Empire must be shared with our Allies, and the needs of the United Nations require that economy in the use of rubber should not be relaxed, He added that transport contractors are Da required to use part-worn and retreaded tyres that are unserviceable. If we were waging the war alone, our supplies of indigenous rubber in the BritiSh Empire are more than sufficient to• meet our own requirements, and there is a substantial exportable surplus, which is sent to the United States.

FUTURE ROAD POLICY AND MOTORWAYS

LAST week, Mr. P. J. Noel-Bakes informed Mr. Keeling that he was not at present able to make the detailed plans which would be required for the construction of motorways. He assured him, however, that all aspects of future road policy, including the desirability of constructing motorways, were under active consideration. Mr. Keeling asked whether the mind of the Government had changed since Mr. Noel-Baker spoke at Etourriemouth, when he stated that plans for motorways were far advanced, or had the mind.of the Government merely become more vague?

Mr. Noel-Baker emphasized that "

plans" is an ambiguous term, and that he had used the word in respect of the siting of roads, and not for their construction.

ROAD-CONSTRUCTION PLANS BEING EXAMINED

HAS the M.O.W.T., in consultation with the Minister of Town and Country Planning, included any of the' new roads or motorways extending from the London area to Birmingham,Nottingham, Grrithatn, Basingstoke, Winchester and Norwich—suggested by Sir Charles Bressey in his report on the Highland Development Survey, 1937—in its national post-war plans? Captain Strickland, who putthis question, was told by Mr. P. J. NoelBaker, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the M.O.W.T., that the Ministers of the two Departments are now examining the proposals for road construction and improvement made in the report referred to, in order to decide which of these proposal can advantageously be included in our post-war plans


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