Salter Report

The Salter Report was named after Arthur Salter, who chaired an influential conference of road and rail experts in 1932 which reported in 1933. The report directed British government policy for transport funding for decades to follow.

The committee investigated the perception, current in the 1930s, that the safety, pricing and operating regulations that applied to the railways had left them at an unfair disadvantage when compared to the road haulage industry, which was unregulated. It noted that the railway system, then organised into several regional companies, probably had no need for many of the small branch lines and services, as motor transport had shown itself to be more efficient for local deliveries. But it concluded that the existing system of road funding, which relied on local authorities to fund a significant portion of the road network, represented a subsidy to the road hauliers.

The lorry had started to compete against rail freight on long journeys, which was seen to be undesirable as it represented unfair commercial competition and added to road congestion. Although railway companies were experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the loss of their monopoly of service, the committee looked at ways for the railway operators to co-operate with each other and the road haulage industry through integration, but still maintain commercial competition. The report stopped short of recommending direct subsidies or the nationalisation of the railways, viewing this as unacceptably protectionist and socialist.

The widespread use of public road passenger vehicles and private motor cars was seen to be of great benefit, but it noted that the growing numbers of motor vehicles were capable of making many more journeys than the previous generation of horse-drawn traffic. In particular, the hauling of heavy loads by road was useful but expensive as it caused more wear on the carriageways. To counteract this, the report recommended that local authorities should be able to restrict heavy traffic from local roads, and should be relieved of the burden of funding their maintenance. Instead, the motor vehicle should fully pay its way. The report recommended replacing the established system of road funding from the local rate payer wholly onto the operators of motor vehicles through changes in road pricing.

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