§ 11. Mr. Berryasked the Minister of Transport what is the average rate of railway mileage closures for the five years 1960 to 1964 and for the five years 1965 to 1969.
§ Mr. MurrayThe totals for 1969 are not yet available. From 1960 to 1964 the annual average rate of total route mileage closure was 498; from 1965 to 1968 it was 886. For passenger route mileage alone the figures are 478 and 549 respectively.
§ Mr. BerrySince the Minister, in his own words, always tells the whole story, does he agree that this is a vindication of the last Government's policy on the railways, and does he accept that the Prime Minister's words on this subject were as untrue as most of the other statements he has made?
§ Mr. MurrayThe present policy envisages 11,000 route miles, of which 8,000 will carry passengers. In each case the figure is about 3,000 more than would have resulted from the Beeching proposals. The system of grants for unremunerative passenger services ensures that 1032 socially necessary services are kept open. The Government are paying nearly £60 million a year to keep open socially necessary services.
§ Mr. McNamaraIs my hon. Friend aware that the Government's action under the Transport Act in subsidising socially desirable but financially unremunerative railway lines has been greatly welcomed, particularly by my constituents in Hull, as it has kept open a very valuable line for them to get to the seaside and helps to build up the economy of the area?
§ Sir A. V. HarveyDoes the Minister recall what his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity said a few years ago about keeping railways open for the commuters? She merely said this to get votes. She diddled the public and others, and always has done.
§ Mr. MurrayUnder our policy we are keeping open some 3,000 more route miles than would have been kept under the policy of the previous Government.