§ 56. Mr. Milneasked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for talks with the passenger transport authority in the North-East with the view to securing the early integration of road and rail services in the area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineIt is the duty of each passenger transport authority to secure the provision of a properly integrated system of public passenger transport in its area. The Tyneside authority and executive will shortly be publishing a statement of their policy.
§ Mr. MilneWhilst I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his reply, may I ask whether he is aware that his responsibilities do not end there? When the report is completed he must make an examination of the transport needs of the North-East, because traffic congestion is linked with the question of road and rail integration. It is vital that he does not just burke the responsibility and pass it elsewhere.
§ Mr. HeseltineI am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that before anything can be put at our doorstep we must await the report of the Tyneside P.T.A.