§ 20. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Transport what correspondence he has received about the concern which exists in the north-western area about inadequate passenger services; what proposals he has received from municipal or other road services on this matter; what conclusions have been drawn from the Merseyside inquiry; and what action he will take on the North-Western Transport Users' Consultative Committee resolution, a copy of which has been sent to him.
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettMy right hon. Friend has received no great volume of correspondence on this subject, and none from bus operators. He expects to receive a report on the Merseyside survey from the local authorities concerned later this year. He is considering how further studies as suggested by the North-Western Transport Users' Consultative Committee might best assist the study of long-term transport and planning questions in the Manchester conurbation. In any case, before taking decisions on railway passenger closure proposals in that area, the views expressed by the Committee will be taken fully into account.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithWill the Parliamentary Secretary ask his right hon. Friend if he agrees to these points, that this is probably the greatest industrial area in the world and that the density of population there is greater than anywhere else? Is it not scandalous that the people are having to put up with this lack of co-ordination of transport? Has he seen the latest observations made by the chairman of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee, that it will take at least two years to consider the objections already made to the Beeching proposals?
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettWhile not accepting all the implications of the 1304 latter part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I will put the questions he has asked me to my right hon. Friend, and I can at least assure him that my right hon. Friend is fully aware of the importance of Merseyside.