51. Mr. Geoffrey Wilsonasked the Minister of Transport what estimate she has made of the expenditure on new forms of assistance to public transport, provided for in the Transport Bill in 1968–69 and in 1969–70: and what percentage cut is being made in each case.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. John Morris)As stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th January, this expenditure is being limited to £10 million in 1968–69 and £20 million in 1969–70. This represents a cut of 16⅔ per cent. and 20 per cent., respectively.
§ Mr. MorrisThis is the considered view of my right hon. Friend, and I am sure that this will be advantageous to the working out of the Bill which we are now discussing.
§ Mr. MaxwellIn arriving at these cuts, are the rural bus services being 878 treated better than, for example, the rail services, particularly having regard to the railway closures in constituencies such as mine? Is he aware that the rural bus services in some areas are so abominable that if additional financial cuts are imposed on them life will be made almost impossible and intolerable?
§ Mr. MorrisI am aware of the concern that is felt by my hon. Friend about this matter. As he will be aware, in the course of our discussing the Bill we are taking steps to implement the longawaited Jack Report on Rural Transport.
§ Mr. SpeakerAre there any more supplementary questions? If not, and if the Minister is here, we will proceed to the Private Notice Question.