§ 3. Mr. Danceasked the Minister of Transport whether she will reconsider the present membership of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Co-ordinating Committee, with a view to correcting the existing imbalance, whereby most members are from the conurbation but most of the area is outside the conurbation.
§ 39. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Minister of Transport why she has refused to appoint representatives from the County of Worcestershire on the West Midlands Transport Co-ordinating Committee; what representations she has had in this regard from the Worcestershire County Council; what reply she has sent; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CastleThe members of the West Midlands Committee, like those of the committees for all the other regions, were appointed by me on the nomination of 1055 the Regional Economic Planning Council and of a number of other representative organisations, including the County Councils Association and the Association of Municipal Corporations. The aim was to get the right blend of experience and knowledge of the transport needs of the region as a whole. It was inevitable that, as Birmingham is the regional centre of the West Midlands, some of the members who were nominated as regional representatives should live in the conurbation area. It would not be possible to have separate representation from each important local authority in the region without making the committee too large to be really effective. The regional committees will, however, be working through specialist or area sub-committees with which the local authorities and other interests concerned will be invited to co-operate.
§ Mr. DanceThere are only two members from outside the conurbation. Is the right hon. Lady aware that Alderman Watton, the chairman of this committee, said that, at the outset, it would not consider the problems in the conurbation area and that the problems outside were far greater, affecting far more people? Will not the Minister think again and make new appointments to this committee and so end this unjust and lunatic situation?
§ Mrs. CastleIf I were to make a new appointment to satisfy the hon. Gentleman, many other local authorities also would wish to be represented, and we should have a totally unworkable committee. The chairman of the West Midlands Committee has already written to local authorities in the region, including the Worcestershire County Council, inviting their suggestions on transport in the area.