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Labour call for nationalization and a new transport control body

7th September 1973
Page 35
Page 35, 7th September 1973 — Labour call for nationalization and a new transport control body
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

from our political correspondent

• Total nationalization of transport undertakings, passenger and freight, is demanded in many of the 23 resolutions on the transport industry put forward for debate at this year's Labour Party Conference.

The Conference is being held in Blackpool from October 1-5.

York Constituency Labour Party has tabled a motion calling on the next Labour Government. as a matter of urgency, to take into public ownership all transport undertakings not already nationalized.

It also calls for:

O The setting up of a Transport Authority to determine overall -transport policy.

O Provision of public transport for all communities; that it should be frequent and properly integrated; and that it should move towards a free service.

O The movement of dangerous materials, bulk loads and long-distance freight by rail or canal wherever possible and load limits reduced.

Abuse of regulations The proposed authority would he responsible for stopping the present abuse of regulations governing size, weight, maintenance, pollution, drivers' hours and other safety measures. It should also undertake research into the effects on lorry and bus drivers' health of years of continuous driving.

Other resolutions insist that all public transport should be provided as a social service rather than a commercial undertaking.

An amendment by Nottingham East LP calls for the transfer of responsibility for the maintenance of railway lines to the Ministry of Transport (sic) and for Government finance to maintain railway lines on the same basis as roads.

The National Union of Railwaymen is among those demanding nationalization of road haulage firms. But an amendment by the Scottish Commercial Motormen's Union is seeking to limit this commitment to operators with more than five vehicles.

VAT for petrol ...

Dartford constituency calls for the abolition of the annual road fund licence and increases in petrol tax to compensate for the loss of revenue, but Maidstone wants the standard rate of VAT to be applied to petrol.

Transport is almost certain to be selected for debate at the Conference, but all these motions are likely to be reduced to one composite resolution in the final agenda.


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