asked the Minister of Transport if it is his intention to take any steps to prevent the possibility arising in the short-distance haulage areas of firms, outside the scope of nationalisation, from concentrating lorries that had been previously used for long-distance work on the short-distance trade and thereby causing confusion in that part of the industry.

It is too early yet to say whether any difficulties of this nature are likely to arise.

Has my right hon. Friend any action in view should this set of circumstances arise in the near future; has he any plans to overcome this difficulty when it does arise?

As I have already indicated, I do not think it is wise to deal with this problem hypothetically.