Page 19 This, besides increasing the difficulties of finding suitable persons, tends to make it difficult for the body to work as a team. The provisions of subsection (2) of Clause 22 have been drawn accordingly.
The Minister's Powers of Direction
13. Subsection (3) of Clause 22 extends the Minister's powers to give directions to the Commission. At present his powers are limited to the issue of directions of a general character "in relation to matters which appear to him to affect the national interest." These powers have proved sufficient in respect of charges to be made by the Commission; but experience has shown that they are not wide enough to ensure that the Minister can intervene in other matters which, though they cannot be said to affect the national interest because their effects may be local in character, are nevertheless, of sufficient general importance to warrant intervention. The amendment to Section 4 (1) of the Transport Act, 1947, which is contained in Clause 22 (3) of the Bill is designed to enable the Minister to intervene in such cases, and at the same time to avoid becoming involved in matters of day-to-day administration and thus bringing such matters within the scope of Parliamentary review.
Credit Facilities
14. The possibility of providing financial assistance to purchasers of transport units is under consideration. It is desirable that, if at all possible, such assistance should be limited to the facilitating of credit to be made available privately. Proposals are awaited from the Road Haulage Association, who may be prepared to set up a separate credit organisation whose sole purpose would be to assist the purchasers. In that event, the banks can be authorised to provide the necessary funds without any serious breach of the Government's credit policy, and no provision need be made in the Bill.
Incorporation of the Workers' Charter
15. Consideration has been given to the possibility of including in the Bill provisions on the lines of those included in the Iron and Steel Bill for the super- vision of the arrangements for the promotion of safety, health and welfare of persons employed in the non-nationalised part of the transport industry. Unlike the denationalised iron and steel industry, however, non-nationalised_transport will have no central body which could supervise such arrangements. The Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, makes certain provisions with the object of securing safety relating to the hours of work and rest periods of drivers and the roadworthi- ness of vehicles. To go beyond this in respect of vehicles purchased on disposal of the Road Haulage Executive does not seem to be practicable. The matter is, however, being examined by the Minister of Labour.
Conclusion
16. I ask my colleagues to approve the draft Bill circulated with this memorandum and, subject to any further amendments which may be necessary in the light of the consultations now taking place, and to any minor or drafting amendments, to agree to its presentation in the House of Commons on Thursday, 3rd July, 1952, as proposed in C. (52) 160.
Great George Street, S.W.1,
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19th June, 1952.
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