CAB129-53 — Page 120

SECRET

C. (52) 218

1st July, 1952

Printed for the Cabinet. July 1952

CABINET

Page 120

Copy No. 73

TRANSPORT BILL

MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CO-ORDINATION OF

TRANSPORT, FUEL AND POWER

As requested by the Cabinet on 26th June (C.C. (52) 63rd Conclusions, Minute 6), the Committee on Transport Policy have considered outstanding points on the draft Transport Bill and I now submit a final draft (print No. 163–6). I call atten- tion to the following points: -

Scotland

}

2. We have considered the suggestion made by the Secretary of State for Scotland in C. (52) 205 that the Bill should provide for the appointment of a Scottish Committee to assist the British Transport Commission in Scottish matters. In the view of the Transport Policy Committee, such a body would be unnecessary while the reorganisation of the railways is being worked out. It would be redundant once the Scottish railway authority has been set up, for the Scottish Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee will still be in existence. Further, the Bill now provides that the Scottish Consultative Committee shall have direct access to the Minister of Transport (Clause 27 (3)) and that it shall be empowered to concern itself not only, as at present, with railways, but also with road passenger services, which in Scotland are provided by companies controlled, through shareholding, by the British Transport Commission. (Clause 17 (8).)

3. We understand that the existing Scottish Consultative Committee has not made a very impressive showing, and has hardly been sufficiently in touch with local needs and opinions. These defects can be cured by improving the member- ship of the Committee and by setting up subordinate local bodies. Both these steps can be taken administratively, under existing powers, by the Minister of Transport, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland.

4. We have discussed the matter fully with the Secretary of State for Scotland, and we understand that he now regards the views expressed in C. (52) 205 as adequately met by the arrangements described in the preceding paragraphs.

The Minister's Powers of Direction

5. The Bill as now drafted includes no provision modifying the powers of giving directions to the Commission conferred upon the Minister of Transport by Section 4 (1) of the Transport Act, 1947. But those powers might be insufficient during the period when immediate effect is being given to the Bill.

A non- co-operative Commission might, without some such spur, greatly delay, if not frustrate, the intentions of Parliament. In particular much time might be lost over a deadlock between the Commission and the Road Haulage Disposal Board to be established under Clause 2. The Transport Policy Committee have, therefore, agreed that there should be inserted in Clause 3 a provision which will enable the Minister to resolve any such deadlock by giving a specific direction to either the Commission or the Board in the event of a dispute. Such a power would be purely transitory, and would be spent once immediate effect had been given to the Bill.

Page 24860

Page 120

1192

Page 121 Charges Schemes