§ 6. Mr. Brynmor Johnasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities have made applications to him for grant for rural bus services.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasFive.
§ Mr. JohnWould the Secretary of State accept that the reason for the comparative lack of applications is that those authorities which have to contemplate the subsidies are exactly the poorest authorities in Wales, and that the position is becoming monthly more serious because bus services are being discontinued? Would he now undertake to call a national conference to discuss this very serious position?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI agree that the matter is serious. As the hon. Gentleman knows, a 50 per cent. grant is available to the authorities, and the remainder is taken into account under the rate support grant.
§ Mr. John MorrisHaving regard to the last Tory Government's record on butchery of railway lines in Wales, can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what the Government's intentions are about the continuation of grants for socially necessary railway lines?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe continuation of railway lines is not a matter primarily for the Government.
§ Mr. HoosonIn dealing with the first question, would the Secretary of State look at the relative success of the experiment in Montgomeryshire of post buses? There is an intractable problem in the rural areas and an extension of this kind of scheme might be the answer to this problem.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI am obliged to the hon. and learned Gentleman. This and other schemes are being looked at. The Welsh Council is going into this with some care. I am having discussions at the moment with my right hon. Friend the 6 Minister for Transport Industries about the whole transport position in Wales.
§ Mr. William EdwardsIn view of the Secretary of State's statement just now about the Government's responsibility for railway lines, how can he say that he is not responsible for the future of the railway lines in Wales in view of the fact that under the Transport Act nearly all the money to help run nearly all the railway lines in Wales comes from the Government?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI did not say that I was not responsible. [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes you did."] If hon. Members will look at HANSARD tomorrow they will see that I said that I was not "primarily" responsible.
§ Mr. John MorrisOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I propose to raise it as early as possible on the Adjournment.