HC Deb 21 November 1962 vol 667 cc1187-8
3. Mr. Bence

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he is making to ensure adequate road transport facilities in areas at present and in the future not served by rail.

Mr. Noble

The provision of road transport services in areas at present not served by rail is primarily a matter for the road transport industry, but the road programme is steadily improving the roads they use. As regards possible future railway closures, we must first await the outcome of the studies being undertaken by the British Transport Commission.

Mr. Bence

Will the right hon. Gentleman use all the influence and power he has, if he has any power, to prevent any rail closures until such time as we can be assured that we are not to have parts of Scotland cut off through roads being blocked by excessive snowfalls such as those we have had in the last few weeks?

Mr. Noble

I should hate to be responsible for the snowfall, but I think the hon. Member was in the House when I gave the assurance to the House that these closures should not take place unless there are adequate facilities for passengers and freight services.

Mr. Manuel

Will the right hon. Gentleman definitely promise the House that upon the reception by the Minister of Transport of Dr. Beeching's economic reappraisal, if it means rail closures in certain parts of Scotland that have roads with passing places only, he will fight within the Cabinet and against the Minister of Transport to see that there shall be no further depopulation of these areas because of the complete severence of transport?

Mr. Noble

I do not believe that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is in the least keen to encourage the depopulation of the Highlands and add to the congestion already existing in the South.

Mr. Woodburn

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that by denationalising road transport to a large extent he took away one of the possible solutions of this problem by which the British Transport Commission would have had the responsibility of supplying transport and deciding according to circumstances which was the better form?

Mr. Noble

The right hon. Gentleman is not entirely correct, because the Minister of Transport, in approving a closure, has powers to instruct the Commission to run bus services to avoid hardship arising.