HC Deb 23 November 1966 vol 736 cc1380-1
27. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Transport what plans her Department now has to take powers to maintain and increase rural bus services, particularly in the South-West.

Mrs. Castle

My proposals for helping rural transport are stated in paragraphs 78 and 79 of the White Paper on Transport Policy (Cmnd. 3057). They are now being considered by the local authority associations.

Mr. Mills

Will the Minister bear in mind that what is needed is immediate action to save these operators before they go out of business? Will she take steps to get a rebate scheme going quickly? Otherwise we shall see a further depopulation in our rural areas, because of lack of transport.

Mrs. Castle

It is because we realise that public transport in rural areas has been running into increasing difficulties that we made proposals in the White Paper, which, for the first time, said that we would seek powers to enable local authorities to give financial assistance and for my Ministry to contribute to the cost. The details of these proposals are now being discussed with the associations.

Mr. Geoffrey Wilson

Does the Minister appreciate that this matter has been under discussion for many years now? Is it not about time that some action was taken? Otherwise we shall be in serious difficulties.

Mrs. Castle

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman. Complaints have been heard in this House for years about the state of public transport in rural areas. The Conservative Government did nothing about it. Nothing will be done to solve this problem unless and until powers are given to me by the House to carry out the proposals contained in the White Paper.

Mr. McNamara

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the logic of her argument is to take all forms of public transport into public ownership?

Mrs. Castle

Certainly there are publicly-owned vehicles among those which we are going to help.

Mr. Peter Walker

Is the right hon. Lady aware that one thing which a Conservative Government did was give investment allowances to buses, which this Government have taken away?

Mrs. Castle

That did not make any difference to the plight of the bus industry or of rural transport, which hon. Gentlemen from rural areas voiced in this House for years. The Conservative Government were not willing to take the key decision, without which nothing could be done, namely, that there must be financial help from public funds.