Levy to Start at 30 cwt.: B.T.C.
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to Decide Sales by Companies
BY OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT
I ORD LEATHERS has tabled an amendment to the Transport Bill, " in the House of Lords, to exempt from the levy goods vehicles weighing uQ to 30 cwt. unladen.
A further series of amendments has been put forward to enable the British Transport Commission to set up companies for the sale of the Road Haulage Executive's assets.
The change in the levy follows proposals to this end which were urged on the Minister of Transport in the committee stage in the House of Commons. Then, he pointed out that 80,000 more vehicles would become exempt from the levy, and, if the same revenue were to be derived, there would have to be an increase of Is. a unit.
He thought, however, that if the concession could be made, it might be better to lose a little of the revenue and leave the levy at 13s. 6d, per vehicle, which would mean that the revenue would be down by £300.000.
• No Increase in Payment
It appears that the Government have decided to follow this course, for no amendment appears on the Order Paper to increase the levy.
The amendments concerning the sale of the R.H.E.'s assets as companies place on the 13,T.C. the onus of deciding whether this method of disposal shall be adopted, although the Disposals Board will have to approve sales by way of companies.
It is proposed that assets should be made over to a company controlled by the Commission and that the shares should then be offered for sale by tender as soon as reasonably practicable. The shares will be offered in one parcel on terms to be approved by the Disposals Board.
The tender method need not be used if the B.T.C. think that it would not produce the best price, but the Board's approval must be obtained before the shares are sold privately. Acceptance or refusal of an offer will be influenced by the desirability of avoiding the concentration of the R.H.E.'s assets in too few hands.
An amendment to Section 8 makes it clear that only those false statements made after the passing of the Act will be a ground for the suspension or revocation of an A or B licence.
P.V.O.A. and the Bill The Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association is in consultation with members of the House of Lords to secure acceptance of its amendment to the Transport Bill regarding the operation of contract carriages in London.
During both the committee and report stages of the Bill in the House of Commons, the P.V.O.A. opposed the introduction of a clause inserted by the Government at the behest of London l'ransport employees that the British Transport Commission should have power to operate contract carriages for
A28 carrying pleasure parties of B.T.C. employees, with or without their families or friends.
The Association considers that the new clause is unnecessary and too wide in scope, and that it will undoubtedly lead to abuse of the privilege intended for employees.
Two other amendments are also being sought. They are that the London Transport Executive should not have the right to run services outside its present area, even under a road service licence, and that the powers given to the Minister of Transport to direct the B.T.C. to dispose of all or any of its
financial holdings in road passenger transport undertakings should be obligatory, and not permissive.
" Unless the latter amendment is included in the Bill it will not be possible for the Conservative Party to implement its many statements to denationalize road passenger transport," states the Association.
R.H.E. PROFIT 1500,000?
I T is not likely that last year's profit of the Road Haulage Executive will exceed £500,000. In 1951, there was a surplus of receipts over expenditure of £3.2m. Earnings last year fell by £1.3m., whilst higher expenses had to be met, -including an increase of £1.5m. in fuel tax.
EXTRA LIGHT FOR LONG LOADS
TN the House of Commons, last week, I a standing committee approved an amendment to the Road Transport Lighting (Rear Lights) Bill to provide that a vehicle carrying a load projecting 6 ft. beyond the rear should have an extra light. The amendment was moved by the sponsor of the Bill, Col. J. H. Harrison.
The Bill has now passed through the committee stage.
NEW TYRE FOR DUMPERS A NEW Dunlop tyre, known as the Power Rib, for the front wheels of earth-moving machinery and dump trucks used for mining and logging, is announced.