HC Deb 05 December 1983 vol 50 cc11-2
15. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the proposasl to create a new authority for London Transport operations.

Mr. Ridley

We have received a number of comments in response to our White Paper which we have taken into account in preparing the Bill now before Parliament.

Mr. Dykes

Notwithstanding some of the parameters of the published legislation, can my right hon. Friend say why public transport, land use, planning and highways planning should not be kept together and co-ordinated on a London county-wide basis in future?

Mr. Ridley

I think that that matter has been covered. The Bill is the Government's response to that situation. More will take place when the Greater London council is abolished and further transport responsibilities are taken into account.

Mr. Prescott

Does the Secretary of State accept that the fact that he is to be the first Tory Minister to nationalise London Transport will enable him to reduce financial support for it by increasing fares by as much as 22 per cent., reducing services and threatening concessionary fares for Londoners? What representations has he received from London ratepayers, who have seen their possible share of the cost rise from 55 per cent. in the first Bill which was published on Friday morning to 66 per cent. in the second Bill? Over the weekend, did the Secretary of State reflect further about the percentage? This much-heralded new Bill for Londoners is more about the Treasury's financial needs than about the transport needs of Londoners.

Mr. Ridley

There is no reason why taking over London Transport should lead to any significant fare increases, in real terms, next year, and I utterly repudiate what the GLC has alleged on that score. The hon. Gentleman knows full well that concessionary fare schemes are a matter for the local authorities involved. Over the next two years—and we have two years—the London boroughs will no doubt come forward with schemes to supply bus passes for pensioners. I tried to help the hon. Gentleman by giving him a copy of the Bill, which was restricted and classified—

Mr. Prescott

No, it was not.

Mr. Ridley

—because the House authorities did not get the Bill printed on time and I am surprised that he should have taken the dummy figure in the original Bill and not understood its purpose. The hon. Gentleman should get into his wet suit and flippers, swim across the river and tell the GLC that he misinformed it on Friday.