'Let Traffic Commissioners keep their powers'
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from our Political correspondent
• The Tory Party in Parliament is insisting that the control of bus operations in the big cities and conurbations should remain with the Traffic Commissioners.
They have tabled amendments to the Transport Bill deleting the proposed powers of Passenger Transport Executive in this field, and cutting out the Minister's ruling powers over the setting up and running of PTAs.
Mrs. Castle should not, they say, decide where PTAs should be set up. She should not nominate any members, and the operators involved in providing conurbation services, properly licensed, should be included in the planning of the new services when the time comes.
The Tories also want the activities of Passenger Transport Executives to be limited to a 20-mile radius, with no powers to run excursions and strictly limited powers to hire out buses for jobs around the areas.
Any extra activities which come to them through acquisition should be wound up, preferably within two years.
Another set of Tory amendments virtually makes it mandatory on the Minister to make 25 per cent grants towards new bus costs, and removes the various Ministerial approvals needed, in particular as concerns the type of bus. In addition. the Tories think the grant should be paid for buses acquired since December 8 last year, instead of some appointed day in the future.