39. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Transport if he will appoint an independent commission to examine passenger rail services in the Greater London area and the possibilities of expansion of these services to relieve the increasing congestion on the roads.
§ Mr. HayNo, Sir. The British Transport Commission has the statutory duty to provide or secure the provision of an adequate and properly co-ordinated system of passenger transport for the London Passenger Transport Area.
Mrs. ButlerDoes not the Minister realise that every branch line which is closed without a real and sustained attempt having been made to bring it up to date and to attract passenger traffic adds to the number of cars and buses snarling up London's roads? Is it not necessary for some independent examination to be made of the whole London traffic problem, and is it not the responsibility of the Minister to do that?
§ Mr. HayNo, I am afraid I cannot agree. I am aware of no recent case of withdrawal of passenger facilities on railway lines in the London Traffic Area. We consider this a matter which primarily should remain where Parliament has placed it, namely, with the London Transport Executive.
§ Mr. LiptonIn the light of what the Parliamentary Secretary has just said, may I ask why the Government will not help the British Transport Commission and the London Transport Executive to 467 get on with the new tube from Victoria to Walthamstow, which will do much to relieve road congestion?
§ Mr. HayThat is a much wider question. As I have frequently said, we have not said "No" to that scheme, but we have to leave it until times are a little better.
Mrs. ButlerIs not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are at present proposals for closing a branch line which runs through a number of north London constituencies and that that will have the effect which I mentioned of increasing congestion on the roads?