HC Deb 15 March 1961 vol 636 cc1394-6
33. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Transport what advice his Department offered to the chairmen of the Transport Users' Consultative Committees during the recent conference with his Department, with regard to the balancing of economies and social amenities when proposals for the closure of branch railway lines were before their committees.

Mr. Marples

The meeting which the hon. Member presumably has in mind was an informal one, arranged at the request of the Chairman of the Central Committee, to discuss generally the White Paper on the Nationalised Transport Undertakings. The question of Departmental advice having been given does not therefore arise.

Mr. Boyden

Could not the right hon. Gentleman say what advice has been given to the chairmen on how the economic, social and amenity values of a railway could be balanced against a small loss? Is it not a fact that in the case of the Barnard Castle—Penrith Railway the North-East Committee emphasised that there were strong economic and social arguments for keeping the line open and that it was running at a profit, but the right hon. Gentleman accepted the Central Advisory Committee's recommendation that the line should be practically closed?

Mr. Marples

I think that these committees should operate without advice from the Minister himself.

38. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Transport what report he has received from the Central Transport Users' Consultative Committee regarding the inquiry made by the North-East Transport Users' Consultative Committee concerning the proposed closure of the Barnard Castle to Penrith railway line, with particular regard to the profitability of that line, the local feeling aroused by the proposal and the efforts of the management to operate the line economically.

Mr. Marples

The Central Transport Consultative Committee has sent me copies of its Minutes recording the consideration which is has given, but not yet completed, on this proposed closure.

Mr. Boyden

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that by accepting the advice of the Central Transport Users' Consultative Committee he has made absolutely ridiculous the subsequent proceedings? In other words, one bite was taken out of the cherry and the Committee then took two or three more bites, making the situation quite untenable. When the official recommendation comes from the Committee, will he look at it from that point of view?

Mr. Marples

That is a distortion of what happened, and it is not complimentary to the Central Committee. It has not completed its consideration. It will consider the matter further at a meeting on 21st March. I cannot add anything until it has considered the matter further.

Mr. Short

When the right hon. Gentleman gets the Committee's recommendation, will he bear in mind what I have already told him in a letter, that this is not a branch line but the only cross-Pennine route in the 100-mile stretch from the Tyne Valley southwards? Will he try to halt this contraction of the railway system in the North of England?

Mr. Marples

When the Central Committee makes its recommendation to the British Transport Commission, I will ensure that the hon. Gentleman's letter is borne in mind.