§ 38. Colonel Beamishasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the dissatisfaction of the objectors to the recent proposal by the Transport Commission to close down the passenger service between Newhaven and Dieppe from 4th November, 1958, to 19th March, 1959, arising from the failure of the South Eastern Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee and the Central Transport Consultative Committee to answer pertinent questions, and the way in which suggestions for improving the service were ignored, he will refuse to agree the recommendation for closure until these questions and suggestions have been fully considered.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. The Central Transport Consultative Committee made a thorough review of the case before 944 confirming the conclusions of the South Eastern Area Transport Users Consultative Committee, and I can find no adequate grounds for disagreeing with them.
§ Colonel BeamishAm I right in assuming an error on the part of the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, when he told me that no recommendation had been made to my right hon. Friend? Does my right hon. Friend agree that it was illogical and unfair to look at the Newhaven-Dieppe passenger service in isolation from other cross-channel services? Is he aware that that view is widely held? Is he also aware that no attempt was made to present any evidence to show that this line was running at an annual loss? How can he fail to agree, therefore, that the objectors have a right to feel dissatisfied?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am sure that anyone has a right to feel dissatisfied, but I should tell my hon. and gallant Friend that the Committee has upon it representatives who are expert in shipping matters. I understand that they came to a unanimous conclusion, and that gives me no locus at all to intervene.
§ Colonel BeamishOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I shall do my best to raise this matter on the Adjournment.