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New look at transport politics
Page 24
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Tory's Shadow Minister interviewed by Martin Hayes
MARCUS FOX is rare among politicians appointed to look after transport affairs in being both interested and knowledgeable about the subject. An unashamed Thatcherite, and a Yorkshireman with a reputation for plain speaking, Mr Fox was appointed Shadow Minister for Transport following the Conservative leadership change last month. He succeeded Mr John Peyton, an unsuccessful contender in the
leadership stakes.
Mr Fox's transport interest began long before he became an MP in 1970 — when he had business interests in a Yorkshire coach firm. After entering the House, Mr Fox began a three-year stint as secretary of the Conservative Transport Industry Committee, a back-bench body which keeps a watchful eye on the Party's transport policy. In May last year he was appointed a Front-bench spokesman on transport by Mr Heath and later spent a few months, before the leadership change, as a front-bench spokesman on housing.
"I am neither pro rail nor pro road", says Mr Fox. What is needed, he feels, is better co-ordination of the existing transport resources. The limited amount of money available for trans
port should be used to the best advantage. Mr Fox is in favour of an intensive study to see where the best value for money can be obtained.
Mr Fox regrets that transport in politics seems to have lapsed into relative obscurity since the days of Ernie Marples — "a nationally known figure". Minister for Transport has ceased to be a Cabinet post since then, which Mr Fox feels is probably a mistake. He hints, too, that the present monolithic structure of the DoE, may not be the most efficient and that it could be split up again in some future Tory government.
Drivers' hours
Although reluctant to commit himself on detail aspects of policy until he has had more time in the job, Mr Fox does reveal that, des
pite being a pro-Europe man, he has reservations about the drivers' hours proposals. These could cost unwarranted amounts of money, he feels.
As far as public transport is concerned, Mr Fox feels that the right formula for finance has not yet been found. Once again, he thinks, the policy of putting many of the nation's bus services into the hands of one giant body (National Bus) must be questioned. "Big does not necessarily equal efficient," he says.
As the man who may well. be Transport Minister in the next Tory Government, Mr Fox deserves to be listened too. But operators can rest assured that he has' a basic interest and knowledge in their livelihoods and his plain speaking manner could bring a refreshing new look to transport politics.