§ 2. Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the continued decrease in rural transport services in the County of Northumberland; and what plans he has for dealing with the matter.
§ The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Harold Watkinson)There have been no withdrawals of bus services in Northumberland since the hon. Member's previous Question nine months ago. The British Transport Commission is, with my full support, pursuing a policy of withdrawing uneconomic rail services, and four stations have been closed to passengers in the same period. The interests of the public are fully taken into account in the consultations which take place with the appropriate transport users' consultative committee before any rail service is withdrawn.
§ Mr. OwenWhile I appreciate the point made by the Minister, that does not seem to be in accord with the facts, or with the feeling among those who are in a position to express opinion in the County of Northumberland. At a conference called only last week considerable concern was expressed at the increasing limitation of both rail and road transport, particularly in the rural areas. I am wondering if the Minister will examine the possibility of integration of rail and road transport so that the rural areas at least may be assured of an efficient service.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI will consider any possibility, but I must make it plain to the House that completely uneconomic 2124 services run by the British Transport Commission are to come under increasingly close scrutiny.