§ 4. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings he has had with the Chairman of the London Rail Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. William RodgersI met the chairman on 27th January.
§ Mr. SpearingDoes my right hon. Friend recall that it has taken over two years to set up this committee? Does he realise that that is seen by some as confirmation that neither the Department of the Environment nor the present Department of Transport sees the need for co-ordinating services in the London area? When he next meets the chairman, will he ask him to answer with his own signature letters sent to him by MPs and not leave it to one of his officials to reply in his stead?
§ Mr. RodgersI am sure that the chairman will take note of my hon. Friend's final comment. As for setting up the committee, I agree that it took some time, but I do not think that responsibility for that can lie at my door or that of my Department. I am glad to see that since it was set up it has had a number of meetings. The fourth will take place today. I agree about the importance of the work of this committee.
§ Mr. SkinnerI wonder whether my right hon. Friend might just bump into the chairman on his way to the meeting at Central Hall on 19th February, when he, with part of the Labour movement—those who have been secretly invited—will be discussing the distress and disquiet in the movement over wages being kept down and prices going up, the transfer from road to rail, and all the other things that he, as a Cabinet Minister, has been involved with as closely as anyone else.
§ Mr. RodgersI am sorry that my hon. Friend has so many complaints about his Government, but I think most of them would be unsuitable for discussion with the chairman.