Mr. Fraser 'Jumped the Gun'
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• From our Political Correspondent DIOARLIAMENT'S powerful all party Estimates Committee has taken a quick look at Mr. Tom Fraser's grant of 13,850,000 to London Transport •to cover this year's losses from holding down fares —and has discovered that he had no statutory authority under which to give it.
As the authority will arrive at the end of next July with the passage of the Appropriation Act, the MPs have accepted that, in the case of a once-for-all payment, the Minister's action would be reasonable.
But they have noted that in the debate earlier this month Mr. Fraser promised that if, despite fare increases now sanctioned, the Board required more assistance next year, the Government would present proposals to provide it. in this case, the oncefor-all nature of the aid would not apply, and the Committee warn that if more public money is to be handed over it should have "specific authority by means of appropriate legislation ".
This means, of course, that MPs would have far better chances of debating the aid and, if necessary, objecting to it by vote.