Oral Answers to Questions — Land and Natural Resources – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 December 1964.
Mr David Webster
, Weston-Super-Mare
12:00,
21 December 1964
asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what machinery he has set up in his Department to fulfil his functions with regard to transport, and particularly to the problems of commuters.
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
The responsibility for policy on transport rests with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. In so far as it raises questions affecting my responsibilities I shall keep in close touch with him.
Mr David Webster
, Weston-Super-Mare
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he seems to be in close touch with a lot of Ministers and can he described as a sort of "minuteman"? Is he having consultation with the Minister of Transport or Dr. Beeching on plans for new railway lines or new roads? We should like more detail on this point, as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster stated that he was responsible for improving the lot of the commuter in this country.
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
Close contact between Ministers is the sign of a good Government. I am surprised that the hon. Member thinks that so remarkable.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
As he will have noticed that my hon. Friend's Question asked what machinery he has set up, could not the right hon. Gentleman for once answer a Question as it appears on the Order Paper?
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
I have not found it necessary to set up any machinery for this purpose.
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