§ 1. Mr. Brooksasked the Minister of Transport whether she will ensure that no further closures of railway stations and lines in the Wirral peninsula take place until the results of the Mersey-side Transportation Study, now being conducted, are available.
§ The Minister of Transport (Mrs. Barbara Castle)I shall consider each passenger closure proposal on its merits, but I shall certainly not sanction any closure which would conflict with the transport requirements in the area. If, in a particular case, I find it necessary to wait for the results of this Transportation Study before deciding whether or not to consent to closure, I shall certainly do so.
§ Mr. BrooksI thank my right hon. Friend for that Answer which will relieve the apprehensions felt in the area. Would she now indicate how it can be established in advance whether it is necessary to defer action till results are available?
§ Mrs. CastleIn some cases the facts are sufficiently clear to enable me to proceed without waiting for the Study. In all cases the future development needs are preserved by retaining the formation 1676 so that reopening could take place in future if necessary.
§ Mr. GalbraithCould the right hon. Lady explain how this statement that she has given differs from the policy carried out by my right hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Mr. Marples)?
§ Mrs. CastleI am not concerned with the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend. I am concerned with ensuring that the transport needs in the various conurbations are. preserved under my policy, as indeed they are.