§ 16. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to announce the Government's new policy on railways; and if he will accelerate the decisions reached.
§ 80. Mr. Fellasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on Dr. Beeching's plan for railway reorganisation which has now been submitted to him.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI apologise to the Parliamentary Secretary and wish to explain that the last line of Question No. 16 was intended to invite him, not to accelerate the decisions—which we on this side are not sure whether we want applied at all—but to accelerate an announcement.
§ Mr. HayMy right hon. Friend has now received, and is considering, the Railways Board's proposals for reshaping British Railways. He will make a statement on them as soon as possible, but I cannot yet say when this will be.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerCan the Parliamentary Secretary go a little further in explaining what he means by "as soon as possible"? Can he give us an assurance that we shall have a definitive Government policy on the railways at least before the next election?
§ Mr. HayI think that the bon. Gentleman will, on reflection, understand what the expression "as soon as possible" moans. It means, as soon as we possibly can. As to the second part of his supplementary question, we have never made any secret of our policy for the 371 railways. Indeed, we have spent a lot of time in this House debating Government policy for the railways. If the hon. Gentleman does not know it now, presumably he never will. I can only say that we will make a full statement on the matter as soon as we are ready.
§ Mr. FellI wonder if I may have an assurance from the Minister that before the Government take any decisions on this report there will be a full debate in the House on the whole matter? Secondly, may I ask him whether he remembers that the Prime Minister on 10th March, 1960, warned us that the public must expect inconvenience on certain lines by certain lines being closed, but that other means of transport would be made available? Other means of transport being made available is pretty important, because in many parts of the country, because of poor road conditions, this just cannot be done. Will my hon. Friend be very careful in the assessment of what lines are to be closed?
§ Mr. HayAs to the question of a debate, I think the House would prefer to see the document first and hear what the Government have to say about it. My right hon. Friend did say on 5th December, in answer to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Strauss), that
the Government will take the House fully into their confidence before any final conclusions are reached on the Railways Board's proposals for the future size and shape of the railway system."—[OFFICIAL RFPORT, 5th December, 1962; Vol. 668, c. 171.]
§ Mr. StraussMay we have a definite assurance that the report from the Railways Board will be published, and published in full, so that we may be able to come to a proper consideration of the matter?