§ 7. Sir Clive Bossomasked the Minister of Transport when she expects to conclude the investigation she is making, with the help of local authorities, into the costs of providing an adequate public transport service as part of a comprehensive local transport plan; and when she will make a statement on what these costs will be and what proportion she proposes should come from the reserves, from the local community and from central Government.
§ Mrs. CastleThe investigation is a continuing one but by the middle of next year I hope to have an assessment of the costs of alternative public transport systems.
The need for external financial support, will vary from place to place. As stated in the White Paper on Transport Policy (Cmnd. 3057), central Government financial help will be available for certain major capital projects.
§ Sir Clive BossomWill the Minister be a little more precise? It is a little vague to say "the middle of next year". So far, we have had only paper plans, and we want to know when she will be able to spell out the method in detail.
§ Mrs. CastleEconomic research is going on in my Department under the Economic Planning Unit, and some local authorities are helping. That research will enable us to ascertain the costs of alternative public transport systems. The policy set out in the White Paper will be translated into legislation at the earliest possible moment in the next Session.