HC Deb 01 December 1976 vol 921 cc901-3
20. Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the discussions leading to the integration of policy on rail feeder services and assured bus services.

Mr. Horam

The discussions are continuing as part of the review of transport policy.

Mr. Cook

Is my hon. Friend aware of the very great concern that has been caused that other rail services could be replaced by short bus feeders? Does he think that the lines from Wick to Edinburgh and from Oban to Glasgow could be adequately replaced by bus services? What guarantee can he give that such bus services would be assured, as 50 per cent. of all bus service replacements for rail closures in the past decade have been withdrawn?

Mr. Horam

I am aware of the concern that this proposal has caused. We put this forward as a suggestion for consideration in the light of all the consultations that we are having on the transport document. I am not familiar with all the details of the Oban to Glasgow line, but I can understand them from the way my hon. Friend describes them. I think that we should be careful before substituting a bus service of that kind for a rail service. I am aware that in the past assurances that have been given have in many instances been broken. They would have to be good in future.

Mr. Beith

Does the Secretary of State realise that in north Northumberland the National Bus Company seems to take the view that it would rather replace the rail services than provide the feeder bus services to sustain them? Will the right hon. Gentleman issue a general directive to the National Bus Company—after all, it is a nationalised concern—to the effect that it should seek to provide a better service as a matter of policy?

Mr. Horam

I am interested in that suggestion and will look at it.

Mr. Loyden

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the developments taking place on Merseyside with the loop link line and integration with bus services? As an integrated transport policy is Labour Party policy, will my right hon. Friend look at the policy of creating a viable rail network in the area and not create a white elephant?

Mr. Horam

We are certainly interested in positive suggestions for physically integrating bus and rail services in the way that my hon. Friend suggests. In the course of consultations, many authorities have made such proposals, some of which have been very imaginative. We are anxious to provide services at the lowest possible cost. The alternative is that the services close down altogether. We are not in the business of producing white elephants.

Mr. Fry

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that, although essential services must be assured, there is no argument in favour of heavily subsidising under-utilised routes purely in the call for a dogmatically integrated transport policy?

Mr. Horam

We are not interested in dogma. The whole point of the consultation process has been to open minds to new and imaginative proposals, and if people such as ourselves as politicians and operators are not sufficiently creative we shall not get an adequate transport policy.