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111.P.s Attack Jack Report

7th April 1961, Page 53
7th April 1961
Page 53
Page 53, 7th April 1961 — 111.P.s Attack Jack Report
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FROM OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT EARLY discussions on the Jack Report -1-:lare likely to take place between the Government and outside interests, said Mr. John Hay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, last week.

" I think that this is necessary because already certain bodies seem to have gone on record with rather strong views, and these may need to be fully investigated," he observed during a short Commons debate on rural transport.

He mentioned the "fairly strong language" used by the British Omnibuses Public Relations Committee, which had described the report as "incomprehensible," and its recommendations as being "manifestly unworkable."

"It may be—and I hope that it is the case—that in time this body, which is important and influential, will wish to take a somewhat milder line than in this initial statement," commented Mr. Hay.

Noting that public reaction to the report would also have to be awaited, Mr. Hay promised that the Ministry would reach its conclusions as speedily as it could.

Opening the debate, Mr. Rupert Speir (Tory, Hexham) said he believed the Government was in some danger of getting its priorities wrong. There was no difficulty in finding money to build transatlantic liners, but when it came to finding the very limited sums which were essential to assist rural transport, the door was slammed in the face of the rural community.

" Life in the countryside for those without private means of transport is becoming impossible," declared Mr. Speir. It was a commentary on life in the second half of the twentieth century that it was far easier to go from London to Tokyo or New York than to go from one end of his constituency to the other.

He pointed out that, directly or indirectly, every one of the public utility services in the countryside was helped by some form of financial subsidy.

" They are all supported and subsidized, and transport alone of the public services is left to flounder and fade out. 'I his is sheer idiocy, for without some form of public transport obviously the drift from the land will continue at an ever-faster pace."

One of the fascinating aspects of the problem was that the Government could not escape in the 'end from financial responsibility for it, went on Mr. Speir.

If the Government refused financial help to the public transport services in the rural areas the result would be that the bus services, along with the railways, would disappear. Much of the population would go too, though some people would linger on and they would cost a great deal more money than they cost today in the provision of school transport, health and hospital services.


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