HC Deb 14 July 1982 vol 27 cc1023-4
8. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide direct financial support for all public transport undertakings which are heavily used by commuters.

Mr. Eyre

The Government already provide substantial financial assistance for local transport services through transport supplementary grant and for British Rail passenger services through the PSO grant.

Mr. Newens

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the refusal of the Essex county council, on principle, to pay any transport supplementary grant towards the support of the Epping-Ongar section of the Central Line, on the ground that British Railways' commuter services receive a 100 per cent. subsidy and do not receive a 30 per cent. contribution from local authorities? Is it fair that that section of the line should be burdened with premium fares that are driving travellers away and are continually forcing the question of closure to be raised when these problems have nothing to do with the travellers there? Will he instruct Essex county council that it should pay TSG straight over to London Transport—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is answering his question as well.

Mr. Eyre

The provision of local transport services on the Epping-Ongar line, which are provided by London Transport, requires the Essex county council to decide whether it will give support to those services. If it does so decide my right hon. Friend will assist the council by giving sympathetic consideration with regard to the TSG grant and to any proposal that it makes. It is essentially a local matter.

Mr. Stephen Ross

Will the Minister take this opportunity to confirm to the House that it is not part of his policy to turn railways into highways, an idea that is being promoted a great deal on television, but that it is part of his policy to give public transport the opportunity to provide the type of service that consumers are entitled to expect?

Mr. Eyre

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that he does not expect any substantial closure to take place on the railways. The hon. Gentleman will understand that there are parts of the country, mainly the rural areas, where lines are now unused and where it is sensible to bring forward alternative proposals, such as cycle tracks.

Mr. Skinner

If we can get back to the question—[Interruption.] We have strayed a little. Will the Minister give a guarantee that when the Labour-controlled Derbyshire county council submits a scheme for free transport for all its elderly and disabled persons in the near future he will ensure that any shortfall that has to be paid to public and private undertakings for bus services will be made good by the Government?

Mr. Eyre

Sensible and responsible plans prepared by local authorities are always considered carefully and sympathetically by my right hon. Friend.

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