U.K. OPTIMISM

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 17

U.K. OPTIMISM

Britain’s change of Government has brought hopes that something will be done to get home-market car sales moving again, British writers report. Stagnation in the home market has been blamed for the industry’s fall from third to fifth place in the world car production table during the last six years. Domestic sales in Britain last year were lower than they were in 1964. Motoring organisations hope to see a reappraisal of Britain’s road programme, and a new look at the methods used to finance and administer it. Ordinary motorists hope for a slowing of soaring car-running costs. “They might also be grateful for a pause in the spate

of ill-digested and apparently often unenforceable new rules and regulations which have been spewing out from Whitehall during the last few years," writes John Langley in the “Daily Telegraph.” The Conservatives have promised to end selective employment tax, a tax which bears on service industries and is said to have been responsible for rapidly increasing British garage and car-insurance charges. During Labour's reign, the “shadow” Minister of Transport (Mr P. Walker) indicated he would be willing to look at the 70 m.p.h. speed limit on motorways, and there are. hopes it might be increased, at least experimentally.