HC Deb 06 May 1964 vol 694 cc1262-4
18 and 19. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Transport (1) in view of the implications of the White Paper on the North-East that an increasing number of people will have to travel to work from South-West Durham to the growth zone to the east, what improvements in public transport he is sponsoring between Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle and Newton Aycliffe and Darlington and between Witton Park, Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Darlington and Newton Aycliffe following the British Railways Board's proposals to eliminate all railway passenger services in this area and in view of the report which he has received from the Transport Users' Consultative Committee;[...]

(2) in view of paragraph 107 of the White Paper on the North-East, stating that the region will have much more to offer the tourist and holidaymaker as modernisation gets under way in communications, what steps he is taking to ensure that the last remaining railway passenger services between Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle and Darlington and between Bishop Auckland and Darlington, which serve the two principal tourist attractions of South-West Durham, namely, Teesdale and Weardale, are maintained and improved, in view of the proposed closure of the line and the report on it by the Transport Users' Consultative Committee.

Mr. Galbraith

When my right hon. Friend considers railway passenger closure proposals he takes into account all relevant factors before he reaches his decision. These include any implications for travel to work or for tourists and holidaymakers.

One of the major concerns of my right hon. Friend, as he has frequently stated, is to see that adequate alternative services are, where necessary, available when a passenger closure takes place.

The improvement of rail and other public transport services is primarily a matter for the operators. The Railways Board and the road transport undertakings continually review their services in the light of changing demands.

Mr. Boyden

Why does the Minister go on pondering this matter? In the case of the Middleton-Barnard Castle-Darlington line, is not he aware that the Transport Users' Consultative Committee said that severe hardship would be caused to a great variety of people, including workpeople and children, if the line was shut? Why does not he give a direction to British Railways to maintain the service? In the case of the second railway—Crook-Bishop Auckland-Darlington—is he aware that the Transport Users' Consultative Committee met, that quite inadequate proposals were made by the bus service, and that at the next meeting the bus proposals were still inadequate? Cannot he make a decision that both lines should be kept open?

Mr. Galbraith

The trouble is that hon. Members who have an interest in these matters always want their own cases considered first. These matters are far too important for me to give an off-the-cuff decision merely when the report of a consultative committee has been received—and in the case of the Crook line, no report has yet been received from the consultative committee.

Sir J. MacLeod

Will my hon. Friend give a similar assurance in respect of freight services as has been given, in this Question and previous Questions, on passenger services? Surely there should be no closure of freight services until adequate alternative services are provided.

Mr. Galbraith

I am sure that my hon. Friend knows very well that the position is quite different. The Railways Board has complete freedom with regard to freight. It is only in respect of passenger closures that the consultative committee procedure is applicable.

Mr. Boyden

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter at the first opportunity on the Adjournment.