§ 22. Mr. Galbraithasked the Minister of Transport what financial ceiling she places on maintaining open socially useful railway lines.
§ Mr. John MorrisWe are not yet in a position to confirm or vary the estimate of £55 million per annum initially which is quoted in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum to the Transport Bill.
As the Joint Steering Group made clear in its Report, it will not be possible to make an accurate estimate of the total amount involved until a considerable number of services have been looked at in great detail.
§ Mr. GalbraithDoes that mean—I am not quite sure from the hon. Gentleman's reply—that £55 million is the ceiling and, no matter how socially useful the line is, if the £55 million has been used up the line cannot be reprieved? Will the hon. Gentleman clear that up?
§ Mr. MorrisNo. This is an estimate. We cannot at this stage make a more realistic estimate, but Parliament will be invited to approve an estimate for 1969–70.
§ Mr. ManuelWill my hon. Friend ask the hon. Gentleman the Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galbraith) if he still supports the full rigour and impact of the Beeching Report? Is my right hon. Friend aware of the massive support that she has throughout the country for the keeping open of socially necessary lines?
§ Mr. MorrisIt is not for me to answer for the hon. Member for Hillhead. We never know where he stands; whether he wants to butcher the railway lines of Scotland or not. What is important is 414 that in the present Transport Bill my right hon. Friend has set out means of paying for socially necessary railway lines.