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"Not Stalling" on Jack Report
Page 46
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From Our Political Correspondent
WHEN a delegation of Conservative VY M.P.s saw Mr. Marples recently to ask him about lack of action on the provision of rural passenger services, the Minister assured them that he was not " stalling " on this question and it is understood that, as a crumb of comfort, he promised to consider the introduction of a pilot scheme using miniature buses in one of the rural areas being hit by rail closures.
Mr. Marples is believed to have told the delegation that when he had studied the B.T.C. report on how the railways should be remodelled (the report w'll be based on a rail traffic survey due for completion this summer) then "Parliament will have to take a major political decision on the future of the railways." This was taken to mean that Parliament would have to decide whether railway operations which provide a necessary service at a loss, should be openly financed by the Exchequer. Only then could a related decision about rural transport in general be reached.
A major decision is therefore not likely to be taken before the next Finance Bill —to put the position at its rosiest.
Meanwhile, the pace of the Transport Bill through the Lords suggests that it could well become law in the first half of this month.
DENNIS BROS. ACQUIRE MILES FIRE APPLIANCE BUSINESS
DENNIS BROS., LTD., of Guildford, have acquired the fire appliance business of Alfred Miles, Ltd. (a member of the Hawker Siddeley Group), of Brockworth, Gloucester. The Miles range of appliances will be complementary to the Dennis range of custom-built machines, which will continue in production.
Dennis Bros. have also secured the sole distribution rights for G.Q. safety harness on local authority vehicles, including special safety harness developed for fire appliances.