Keener Rivalry from C-licensees
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THE Transport Tribunal has recommended the Minister of _Transport to approve the increased railway charges proposed by the British Transport Commission. This decision was reached after the Tribunal had heard representations from a number of industrial associations, and its report has been published as a White Paper.
A deficit of £30,000,000 was expected front the operation of the railways in 1950. The Tribunal considered that the income from the Road' Haulage Executive would not materially affect this deficiency. The Commission, taking a conservative view, contended that this source should yield an additional £1,000,000.
With regard to road passenger services, there were practical difficulties in the way of increasing fares, as each constituent company was a separate legal entity and could raise fares only by applying to its respective Licensing Authority.
sify the competition of C-licensed vehicles—competition more intractable than that formerly, felt from Aand B-licence holders—and it was considered that the yield from the increased rail rites would not exceed • the Commission's estimate.
It was submitted to the Tribunal by the British Iron and Steel Federation that when transport was fully integrated the Commission might be expected to pay its way by 19524 The Tribunal did not accept this view. A deficit in the region of £100,000,000 may well have accumulated by the middle or end of that year, and it was, therefore, in the interests of the users of the Commission's services that steps should be taken now to secure additional revenue.