Transport Bill (Allocation of Time)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 November 1952.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Charles Gibson Mr Charles Gibson , Wandsworth Clapham 12:00, 24 November 1952

I imagine that long before we reach the Clauses dealing with compensation, there will be untold discussion on many other points. Hon. Members opposite will put down Amendments which will keep us off the question of compensation. The hon. Gentleman, who did a fair amount of buccaneering earlier, knows the answer to that question. Then we want to know in detail how the levy will work. I want to know how it will affect lorries owned by local authorities and why they should pay it at all. Amendments will be moved in connection with this matter, and, unless we get double the time allowed by the Government, we shall not have a reasonable change to discuss them.

In London we want to know what will be the effect of changes in the freight charges and fares, and what guarantees there will be, if this Bill goes through, that London will not be still further penalised by comparison with the rest of the country in regard to passenger fares. There will be no chance of discussing these things unless there is full and adequate time allowed, and the results will be greater and greater frustration and bitterness.

We want the Government so to arrange the time for discussion in the Committee stage of this Bill as to prevent the men and women employed in the transport industry, road as well as rail, from feeling that in this sell-out of Government property which the Bill entails they will not be dragged down into the gutter, as happened so often in the past when industrial difficulties arose. We want to be sure that the workers in the industry are properly protected, as they were under the Electricity Act, by Amendments being made to the Bill. I should like the principles of any compensation scheme to be in the Bill. I do not like leaving it to any Minister to frame regulations, but I like it even less in the case of the present Minister, because we cannot forget his past history.

I say, therefore, that this Motion allocating time for the discussion of the Committee stage, Report and Third Reading of the Bill, is utterly inadequate. The best thing the Government can do is to take it away, think again, and come back with a new proposal which will at least double the time allowed.