NFC's future: move to rail?
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WHEN the Government considers the future of the NFC it will want to have the greatest possible consultation, according to Mr Anthony Crosland, the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Answering questions in the House of Commons Mr Crosland said that the question of how the NFC should operate was difficult and complicated.
Referring to the Corporation's £30m loss for 1975 Mr Bob Cryer (Labour, Keighly), asked Mr Crosland if he would agree the losses could be cut if the NFC were integrated with British Rail. Mr Cryer suggested that this would be an ideal organisation provided the workers elected the chairman and that he was " neither a politically appointed whiz kid or a retired general."
Mr Crosland replied: "The question of whether the NFC should come back into British Rail has been much discussed over recent months. It will be raised in detail in the consultative document and we shall seek opinions on the matter."
Mr Peter Fry (Tory, Wellingborough), said that the reason for the NFC losses was the original commitment to British Rail. Mr Crosland replied that he was extremely dissatisfied with the state of rail freight but that he strongly believed that neither road nor rail freight should be subsidised by the taxpayer.
This week a spokesman for the DoE said that in his reference to the NFC Mr Crosland had been referring specifically to Freightliners Ltd and National Carriers Ltd, formerly the British Rail Sundries Division.
NCL has lost more than £40m since 1969.