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Elbow grease wanted

25th June 1983, Page 6
25th June 1983
Page 6
Page 6, 25th June 1983 — Elbow grease wanted
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

HEAVY WORKLOADS have been allocated to Lynda Chalker and David Mitchell, the two Under Secretaries working with Transport Secretary Tom King.

As there is no Minister of State or other appointee to take account of the transfer of aviation and shipping from the Department of Trade, these matters are being handled as part of Mr Mitchell's duties. He will also be responsible for railways, ports, road freight and control of Department of Transport manpower.

Mrs Chalker's task looks even more daunting. She will look after trunk and local roads, the bus industry and local public transport (including the establishment of a London Regional Transport Authority), rural transport, road safety, vehicle standards, driver and vehicle licensing, privatisation of hgv. testing, transport for the disabled, the Channel link and EEC liaison, and the promotion

of transport exports.

Mr King has overall responsibility for policy and management.

Ironically, Mr Mitchell's successor as Northern Ireland Envi ronment Minister (responsible for transport) is Christopher Patten, a noted Conservative "wet" and heavy lorry opponent when a back-bencher in the last Parliament.

At civil service level, a further reorganisation is taking place with the DTp's freight policy and road haulage, traffic area co-ordination, and radioactive material transport divisions being hived off to the international transport directorate. This is largely because much of their work is geared to the EEC.

• Aberdeen North Labour MP Bob Hughes is to assume responsibility as Labour's leading transport spokesman until the Shadow Cabinet elections, Labour leader Michael Foot has decided.


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