'Concessions' Talks
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NAR. THOMAS GALBRAITH, ParliaM mentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, had a rough passage in the Commons this week when he defended the Government's attitude towards concessionary fares on local authority buses. Raising his voice above constant Labour interruptions he said that to extend the concessions—as the opposition wanted—would create as many anomalies as it would remove.
It was one thing to deal with erosion of the concessions as the Government proposed, he said, but quite a different matter to extend the concessions. Mr. Galbraith pointed out that the Minister of Transport was getting in touch with the local authorities concerned with a view to reaching an agreement about what amendments of the law were required to secure that their concessionary powers were not eroded. Then the department would take necessary steps in the next Parliament.
The short debate on concessionary fares had been opened by that constant campaigner, Mr. Edward Short (Labour. Newcastle Central), who promised it Labour Government would introduce a suitable measure.
More Examiners THE Ministry of Transport is recruiting more vehicle examiners, to increase the presen,t staff of 343 to 410, said Mr. Marples this week.
L.T.B. 'Manufacture'
THE London Transport Board does not
intend to make its own equipment. but will seek competitive tenders from as wide a field as possible, within both private and nationalized industries.
This "general policy" has the blessing of Mr. Marples, who told the Commons that he had approved without modification the Board's proposals for the exercise of its powers to manufacture under the Transport Act of 1962.
It was the Board's policy to make certain spare parts and minor pieces of equipment and materials in some cases, he said, together with certain minor items for other boards or their subsidiaries or for the subsidiaries of the Holding Company.
Rootes-Chrysler Link THE Chancellor of the Exchequer said
in the Cominons this week that Treasury consent had been given to the proposed offer by Chrysler Corporation to purchase shares in Rootes Motors Ltd.
He told M.P,s that the vice-president of the American firm had given an undertaking that if it wished to acquire a majority holding of •voting shares in Rootes neither Chr3isler nor its subsidiaries would take action without consulting the British Government.