HC Deb 08 March 1967 vol 742 cc1499-500
32. Mr. Mapp

asked the Minister of Transport with whom she had discussions on her recent visit to the Manchester conurbation; and to what extent she reached agreement on the future of public transport in that area.

Mrs. Castle

I discussed with representatives of the local authorities and public transport operators in the Greater Manchester area my proposals for the formation of a Conurbation Transport Authority. My purpose was to exchange views and ideas with those directly concerned and I found substantial support for the setting up of a Transport Authority in the conurbation under broad local authority control.

Mr. Mapp

May I congratulate my right hon. Friend on finding that support in the Manchester area? However, instead of using the more parochial name of "Manchester", would she think of this area in terms of "South-East Lancashire", which is a much more natural traffic area? Finally, may I ask her when she will be able to announce the constitution and, more important still, the area of the proposed authority?

Mrs. Castle

The reason why it is difficult to give any other name than "the greater Manchester area" is precisely because we have not decided what will be the exact boundaries of the Conurbation Transport Authority in this part of Lancashire. I agree with my hon. Friend that, in the end, it might be that we should want to draw the boundaries very wide indeed. The details of the authorities will be included in my Transport Bill and in a White Paper which I shall produce before that setting out the purposes and content of the Bill.

Sir R. Cary

May ask the right hon. Lady not to follow the bad example of The Guardian in dropping the word "Manchester"?