London Transport Services (Hansard, 3 May 1978)

§ 5. Mr. McCrindle
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on assisting those London Transport services which serve areas of the Home Counties and which are currently in deficit.

§ Mr. Horam
It is for the county councils concerned to decide whether to assist these services financially, though we have made it quite clear that, where they are not already doing so, we hope that they will. The Government support their expenditure with grant.

§ Mr. McCrindle
Where there is disagreement between London Transport or the GLC and the county council in whose area the service operates, as is the case with the Epping to Ongar section of the Central Line in my constituency, is it the policy of the Department of Transport either to provide funds itself or at least to try to bring the parties together with a view to meeting the deficit?

§ Mr. Horam
It is not the policy of the Department to provide funds in those circumstances. Other counties are shouldering their responsibilities—the GLC and Hertfordshire, for example. In the first instance, it is up to the local authorities and the operators concerned to get together, though obviously my right hon. Friend and I are prepared to consider any further action which may facilitate that process.

§ Mr. Newens
Is my hon. Friend aware of the deep sense of grievance that is building up in the minds of people living in North Weald and the villages around Ongar at the fact that their section of the Central Line is being deprived of funds 216 which are being made available to support lines in Greater London and the Home Counties with similar problems? Will he intervene to ensure that people who are able to provide the funds get on with the job before the service dies a death of a thousand cuts?

§ Mr. Horam
I note the passion in the voice of my hon. Friend on this matter, and the matter is of great concern. Essex withdrew its grant for this line when the GLC took away its grant—rightly, because it is outside the GLC's territory. Hertfordshire has come back with some money. Tory-controlled Essex should take heart from that and go ahead and do something about it.