Socialists Put Up Last-minute Stand
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Strong Opposition to 70 Lords' Amendments to Transport Bill
BY OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT
THE Transport Bill entered its final phase in the House of Commons on Tuesday. The Opposition tabled 68 amendments to the 70 amendments made by the House of Lords.
Mr. James Callaghan, for the Labour Party, made it plain from the outset that there must be " substantial " discussion on many points.
The Government accepted an amendment, moved by Mr. Mitchison (Lab.), to a Lords' amendment to ensure that any directions given by the Minister to the Disposals Board should be included in the report which the Minister was called on by the Bill to make. Mr. Mitehison's amendment was to provide that the report should also record the action taken by the Board in compliance with these directions.
During further discussion, Mr. Herbert Morrison said, "there are all sorts of stories about premature efforts being made, of officers of the Board or the Commission being seen with a view to getting information which is relevant to the possible purchase of vehicles or parts of the undertaking.
"It is very undesirable. I understand that the Road Haulage Association have already announced. in anticipation of the passing of the Act, that they have appointed their representatives to the Disposals Board."
He would have thought it improper on their part to select representatives to sit on the Board before an Act of Parliament gave them the authority. He did not think vested interests should sit on the Board.
The Minister, Mr. Lennox-Boyd, replied that it was unfortunate and unwise, but it was almost inevitable that some people would "take premature action in anticipation of a Bill which they are entitled to think will become an Act."
The R.H.A. did not appoint representatives to the Board—the Minister did so. From certain representative users and providers of transport he took more than one name, and from lists submitted he chose the Board.
Statement on Board Soon
"I have made no statement whatever in regard to my intentions in that matter, and I shall wait until this Bill receives the Royal Assent and then I hope very quickly to be able to make such a statement."
Mr. Callaghan (Lab.) moved an amendment to widen the considerations which the Commission must have in mind when they decided whether a tender should be accepted. The Commission, he said, should also have regard to the possibility of their property passing to persons who, because of their financial position or because of the units they desired to buy, or otherwise, would be unable to secure the continuance of a satisfactory service.
The Disposals Board, he said, would prove to be "little more than a hollow 134 sham." Their activities were already being forestalled by "City spivs, speculators and sharks." The Minister should restrain them.
The United Dominions Trust, he said, was one of the bodies trying to pay visits to Road Haulage Executive depots to find out what units would be likely to be sold, in order to put in advance bids.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd replied that the suggestion of a conspiracy between the Government and the Trust could be treated with the contempt it deserved. There was no word of truth in the sug gestion and it was unworthy of Mr. Callaghan.
He rejected the amendment. The Government, he said, were in favour of the interests of the consumer "and we believe the restoration of close and sympathetic contact between small people and their customers is one of the ways to help us in our present economic difficulties."
Mr. Mellish (Lab.), speaking later, said: "These people have definitely been to various depots and have been making inquiries from the staff, evidently to find out what are the plans for disposal of these vehicles. It is felt that these unauthorized disclosures or an attempt to get them may well anticipate plans for disposal which is the job of the new Board which is not set up yet."
R.H.E. " Secret "
Mr. Lennox-Boyd replied: "When some of the earlier wilder charges were being made, I thought they related more to the approach to individuals who might themselves te anxious to get credit facilities, than to the point being made now. Obviously, an attempt to find out some secret of the Executive is much more to be deprecated. That is very different.
" But to say that it is, therefore, wrong to approach an individual who might be just the sort of person who wants to become master of his own small business afterwards, is quite another matter. I agree it would be very wrong to go and get information secretly which the Commission did not wish them to have."
Mr. Morrison said the Government were running away from their principles. The Lords' amendment meant that the Minister could completely set aside the whole of the arguments that the Tory Party had put forward.
"Tell Them to Stop" The Opposition's information, he said, was that representatives of the United Dominions Trust had been going round some of the road transport units seeking information. They had also _been trying to make contacts whereby their financial assistance could be made available to small transport people. "I think it the duty of the Minister to say flatly this was wrong and that it should stop," he declared.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd said that this was a matter of great importance. He was concerned about the atmosphere of integrity in which these affairs were conducted. There was nothing improper about a finance corporation or a banking house approaching individuals who they thought would be anxious to get credit facilities when the Bill became law.
The Opposition amendment was defeated. The debate was due to be completed on Wednesday night. A late sitting was expected, as the Opposition were determined to put up a fight.