18. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport what inquiry or survey has recently been made on behalf of her Department with regard to the extent to which trade and industry uses, or is prepared to use, rail transport for the carriage of their goods; on what basis the survey was carried out; and whether its conclusions will be published.
§ Mrs. CastleI assume the hon. Member is referring to a small survey recently carried out in the Midlands by Dr. Sharp, of Leicester University, with the support of my Ministry. The fieldwork has been completed, and a report is being prepared. Publication is expected about the end of April.
Mr. CookeIs this the report from which the right hon. Lady gives the impression all the time that trade and industry are biased against the railways?
§ Mrs. CastleI think that the hon. Gentleman is talking about references in the White Paper to the broader Shipper Survey which has been undertaken.