§ 6. Mr. W. T. Rodgersasked the Minister of Transport whether he will appoint a committee of independent experts to study what new financial structure may be required to improve standards of public transport in urban areas, in view of the findings of the Buchanan Committee.
§ Mr. GalbraithNo, Sir. We do not think such an inquiry is required at present. We are already considering, in consultation with the transport operators and the local authorities, ho best to improve the standards of public transport in urban areas.
§ Mr. RodgersAs this is by common consent a very complicated problem and as there has been a great deal of discussion lately about pricing policy with regard to private transport, including by the Smeed Committee, does not the hon. Gentleman consider that a committee to look in detail and at length into the question of pricing policy might make recommendations which would be very useful guidance to local authorities in very large urban areas?
§ Mr. GalbraithI agree with the hon. Gentleman when he says that this is a complicated matter, but we do not think that an inquiry of the nature which he has suggested is what is really needed. What is much more necessary at the moment is to try to get the operators to provide a more satisfactory service.