HC Deb 23 January 1980 vol 977 cc419-21
19. Mr. Strang

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the light of the recent increases in oil prices, he will review the level of Government support for public transport.

Mr. Fowler

The level of support to public transport by central and local government is currently running at almost £800 million a year. The price of oil is one of the factors I have in mind in making provision for the level of support.

Mr. Strang

When other Governments are increasing their investments in public transport as part of their policies of energy conservation, is it not monstrous that our Government are cutting expenditure on public transport? They are forcing up fares, cutting back on services and forcing more people to use cars, and therefore oil.

Mr. Fowler

I do not accept that as a characterisation of our policy. Clearly public expenditure policy has implications for transport policy. However, if the hon. Gentleman looks at the policy as regards railways, he will see how successful we have been in maintaining support for that system.

Sir Anthony Meyer

In many rural areas buses are an extremely wasteful form of public transport, and will my right hon. Friend persevere with his policy of encouraging such forms of transport as social cars?

Mr. Fowler

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. That is what we intend to do. We intend to extend the opportunities for car sharing and take away some of the restrictions that have been imposed. I agree that such a policy has implications for energy conservation, and at some stage we hope that we shall have the support of the Opposition Front Bench.

Mr. Prescott

Does the Minister's reply mean that, where cross-subsidisation is maintained, the transport system as we know it today, particularly in rural areas, will be undermined by a reduction in grants and by the Transport Bill which proposes to replace buses and rail transport by cars?

Mr. Fowler

That is a ridiculous statement of the position. The Transport Bill seeks to extend and increase the provision of transport. I would have expected the support of the official Opposition Front Bench.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

Is the Minister aware that the reduction of the transport grant to the Tyne and Wear county council will make it difficult for the lower paid worker to afford the heavily increased cost of transport to work?

Mr. Fowler

If the hon. Gentleman looks at the provision made for Tyne and Wear over the years, he will see that Tyne and Wear has not done badly from the TSG system.

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