§ 31. Captain Elliotasked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has to improve co-ordination between transport services covering Greater London and particularly the commuter services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarshThe Transport (London) Bill now before Parliament provides that the Greater London Council shall have a duty to plan for integrated, efficient and economic services. It provides also that the main operators shall co-operate directly with one another to co-ordinate their services.
§ Captain ElliotIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the passage of the Bill does not end his labours? Will he consider giving to a junior Minister special responsibility for transport services covering Greater London and the surrounding commuter area? This area, after all, covers about 30 per cent. of the population and has the most intensive and dense traffic system in the world.
§ Mr. MarshI have some interest myself in London Transport and I assure the hon. and gallant Member that the situation is watched very carefully. The purpose of the Bill is to make the G.L.C. responsible for its own transport services. A joint transport planning group has already been set up under the chairmanship of the G.L.C. and is at work on a 936 provisional basis. The Bill's purpose is to enable the elected representatives of Londoners to determine the traffic.