for Bill A private Time shortage operator for the railways? amendments
Page 45

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
from our Parliamentary correspondent
• An emphatic verdict in favour of competition rather than co-ordination as a criterion for British transport policy is given by Mr. George Polanyi in Contrasts in Nationalised Transport since 1947 published on Friday by the Institute of Economic Affairs. Subtitled Background Memorandum 2 (price 1 gn. from the Institute at 66A Eaton Square, London SW1), it follows Memorandum 1 published earlier this year.
In his latest document Mr. Polanyi supports the Geddes Committee's idea of removing carriers' licensing by repealing the 1930 and 1933 Acts which "inhibit the freedom of licensed operators" and he agrees with Geddes that licensing has not assisted enforcement of safety standards.
Mr. Polanyi also supports road pricing— but with rail pricing too.
And his verdict on the current Transport Bill? "A prescription for inefficiency." • Though the marathon Standing Committee on the Transport BM has ended almost on a note of goodwill, inter-party strife is not ended.
Latest bone of contention is the time allowed for amendments to be put down ready for discussion by the whole House of Commons, next Monday, May 27.
It was the indefatigable Liberal Mr. Peter Bessell who brought it out into the open during discussion of future business. He noted that the revised version of the Bill, as amended in Committee was not being published until last Saturday—yet all amendments had to be in by the following Tuesday. In those circumstances it was impossible for backbenchers to get down all the amendments they wished to table.
His Chief Whip, Mr. Eric Lubbock, protested that if this were true it was a denial of the rights of Members who had not been on the Standing Committee, but who might wish to table amendments.