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Dodging the Issue
Page 45
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Oof November 27, 1962, the Minister of Transport, Mr. Ernest Marples, told the House of Commons that "detailed surveys of transport availability, travel needs and actual travelling" were to be conducted in six rural areas specially chosen to provide a good crosssection. He had said much the same thing several months earlier.
On March 11, 1964 (as reported last week), Mr. Marples announced to the House: " We plan to conduct practical experiments in selected rural areas which can be taken as typical examples ".
How many surveys and practical experiments does the Minister need before arriving at what is an inescapable conclusion?
Look at some other dates. At the end of July, 1961, Mr. Marples told a deputation of Conservative M.P.s that he would examine the question of subsidization of uneconomic rural services.
On October 24, 1961, the end of a parliamentary session automatically wiped out a motion signed by 99 M.P.s from both sides of the House calling for special action over rural transport difficulties. A few days earlier Mr. Marples was "not yet ready to pronounce on this difficult matter ".
On December 12, 1961, Mr. John Hay, then Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, said in a debate that the Government was not ready to answer the question of state subsidies. Mr. Marples had said so about three weeks earlier.
On March 15, 1961, the Jack Committee on Rural Bus Services published its report which, although split as to the method of subsidization, unanimously agreed on the urgent need for direct financial aid to keep uneconomic rural services running.
How much longer is the Minister going to dodge the issue?