§ 30. Mr. Selwyn Gummerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his department has made of the effect of a monorail system on commuter traffic in large cities.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsVarious rapid transit systems, including those using the monorail principle, have been examined as part of the Manchester Rapid Transit Study completed in 1967. A medium-capacity monorail system is now being carefully looked at.
§ Mr. Selwyn GummerWould my hon. Friend not agree that one of the problems 408 in a transport system for a town like London is that, whereas there are authorities responsible for a system of transport like buses or trains, it is no one's specific responsibility to investigate new modes of transport? Would he look into this?
§ Mr. GriffithsMy hon. Friend has put his finger on the problem of needing to look at all forms of transport together. My Department, in co-operation with some 50 cities, is doing precisely that at the moment, particularly in Birmingham and Newcastle, where we are paying no less than 50 per cent. of the cost.