HC Deb 19 April 1967 vol 745 cc571-2
14. Mr. Webster

asked the Minister of Transport what contribution she expects to receive from local authorities when railway lines in their area are loss-making; and how she proposes to enforce contribution in the event of disagreement.

35. Mr. Alldritt

asked the Minister of Transport what is her policy on the transfer of local rates of the cost of maintaining socially necessary railway lines.

Mrs. Castle

There is no question of my enforcing any contributions from existing local authorities. My policy was outlined in paragraph 27 of the White Paper on Transport Policy, Cmnd. 3057, and in the supplementary answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Webster) on 15th March. For its detailed implementation I must ask hon. Members to await the legislation which I intend to introduce later this year. [Vol. 743, c. 405–6.]

Mr. Webster

In that case, where is the money coming from to meet these unremunerative services?

Mrs. Castle

If the hon. Gentleman studies my reply he will find that there are two categories of contribution visualised. One is the policy outlined in the White Paper—and I wish the hon. Gentleman would read the paragraph to which I referred—where I made it clear that as part of long-term arrangements new transport authorities might have this responsibility as part of an overall financial agreement between them and the Government. The hon. Gentleman must await the legislation for the details of that.

On the other question about existing local authorities. I have made it clear that if, in order to keep alive a purely local line, they wish to negotiate with British Railways for its maintenance out of their own funds, they are free to do so. Nobody is compelling them.

Mr. Alldritt

Will my right hon. Friend do her best to expedite the legislation which is important to Merseyside at this time? As she knows, we have already put forward certain proposals.

Mrs. Castle

I am anxious to expedite the legislation because I know that this new Transport Act is urgently needed to undo so many of the disasters which have resulted from the 1962 Transport Act.