§ 8.45 p.m.
Mr. BrownI beg to move Amendment No. 21, in page 33, line 43, after 'London', insert:
'and as to the general level of the provision to be made for such journeys'.In Standing Committee on 1st May I agreed to consult the G.L.C. and the Railways Board about an Opposition Amendment seeking to impose on the Railways Board a duty to consult annually the G.L.C. on the level of provision for its passenger services in Greater London.The G.L.C. will be closely involved in the level of service matters on B.R.B. services, both inside Greater London and on the London commuter network generally. It will be involved through the consultation on the financial objectives for 141 the network provided in the Clause, and also through its participation with the Minister and the Railways Board in the transport planning machinery generally.
The G.L.C. has, in addition, specific powers under Clause 3 to pay grants to the Railways Board for any transport service and, if it wishes the B.R.B. to make special arrangements in any particular case it can offer to pay. Thus, which there is no intention of handing over B.R.B. services to the L.T.E., the G.L.C. is involved in their overall planning in its rôle for looking at transport in London as a whole. The Minister therefore agrees that it would be useful to the G.L.C. if it were to be consulted annually by the Railways Board on the level of passenger services. This Amendment, and Amendment No. 22, impose this duty on the Board. The G.L.C. has no objection to them.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineIt will be agreed on all sides that the Opposition have striven long and arduously to improve the legislation. I am glad that this small example of our work is acceptable to the Government.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Further Amendment made: Amendment No. 22, in page 33, line 45, leave out 'made for such journeys' and insert 'so to be made'.—[Mr. Bob Brown.]