Mr. Walker urges practical steps to aid operators
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THE Government was ignoring practical measures to aid the p.s.v. industry, said Shadow Minister of Transport Mr. Peter Walker last week, and concentrating on the purely political doctrine of trying to bring some of the major bus undertakings into public ownership.
Mr. Walker, speaking in Birmingham after a visit to the Midland Red workshops, said that he wanted to see the investment allowance restored "in some form" for bus operators. He also wanted an improved system of Fuel Tax rebate so that it was simultaneous with payment.
He added: "We as a Party are pledged to doing away with the present Selective Employment Tax. But as an interim move I will personally be moving an amendment on this year's Finance Bill to provide the full rebate of SET to all workshops involved in public transport.
"We intend to fight the public ownership proposals in the CTAs both in Parliament and in the country. The moment the full details are published. I and members of my parliamentary transport team will organize public meetings and speak at public meetings in every constituency in every conurbation affected.
"We think it is incredible that a Government, when there is so much practical work to be done in transport, should go in for a conception of creating large, doubtless bureaucratically controlled, transport companies. Every experience of such orga
nizations—and you have two examples of this in this country, one in London Transport and the other until recently in Ulster— has resulted in high fares, certainly no greater efficiency in service, and been a burden on either the taxpayer or the ratepayer.
"Who is to pay the cost of buying out companies like the Midland Red and the • Birmingham Corporation bus services? What advantage in service or fares can be forthcoming to the public? The result would undoubtedly be both higher fares and higher rates, without the elector having any direct control over what is happening."