Darlington-Richmond Line (Hansard, 23 December 1964)

§ 36. Mr. Kitson
asked the Minister of Transport when he will make a statement about the future of the Darlington to Richmond railway line.

§ Mr. Tom Fraser
Within the next few days.

§ Mr. Kitson
Does not the Minister consider that from last January until now is rather a long time, since that is when the transport users' consultative committee last met to consider the matter? Will he give the same assurance as my hon. Friend gave that, as the British Transport Commission admitted £97,000 of receipts to the transport consultative committee, he will at least see me before a decision is taken?

§ Mr. Fraser
I am very willing to have a brief word with the hon. Member and I should like to have a word with him today if he could find that convenient, because I am on the point of reaching a decision. I have been discussing this closure with the Board only this week, and I want now to reach a decision. The hon. Member mentioned last January. I would point out that the transport users' consultative committee's report was received in March of this year.

§ Mr. Powell
Are we to gather that this is not a major closure and is not a decision in arriving at which he is dependent upon any transport survey or plan for the region?

§ Mr. Fraser
No. The right hon. Gentleman should not draw any such conclusion from what I have just said.

§ Mr. Kitson
Why is it not coming under the survey?

§ Mr. Fraser
The hon. Member must not confuse the issue. I have said that I have to take decisions on these matters on their merits, and that I am seeking to do. I thought that I had gone pretty far in giving the hon. Member an invitation to see me today. I can tell him that I will make a decision within a few days.