Commons clash on licensing
Page 7
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WHEN the Government voted against his Transport (Amendment) Bill, which relaxes bus licensing laws, it was dashing the hopes of many villagers, said Mr Richard Luce (Tory, Shoreham) in the Commons last week.
He said that the Government's consultative document on transport accepted that there was a great social problem in the villages, and commented : "The analysis is extremely good, but the prescription is pathetic."
All that was proposed was a series of experiments in four areas under the existing licensing laws to see whether the situation could be improved, said Mr Luce.
Graver situation
The Government then said it might consider introducing a Bill to allow another few experiments in certain areas under relaxed licensing laws.
By then another two or three years would have passed and the situation would be graver.
The response to his Bill had been overwhelming, went on Mr Luce. Many organisations, national and local, running right across party lines, had given their support.
Supporting Mr Luce, Mr George Younger (Tory, Ayr) said that in Scotland there had been strong rumours that there were to be such savage cuts in rural bus services in the near future that those employed in the bus services were contemplating some form of industrial action in protest.
In reply Mr Michael Foot, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the Commons, criticised Mr Luce for raising the matter of his Bill during a debate on whether or not the House should adjourn until June 7.
There would obviously have to be a debate on the consultative document, said Mr Foot. But where there was no special urgency, the merits of the subject should not be discussed in detail in an adjournment debate.