HC Deb 24 October 1983 vol 47 cc7-8
8. Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had on his proposals to reorganise public transport in London.

Mrs. Chalker

Our White Paper "Public Transport in London", published on 26 July, invited views from all concerned. I am in the process of discussing with the passenger transport bodies which have written to us various points which they have raised.

Mr. Dubs

Will the Minister publish the details of the replies received as a result of the consultative procedures? How many pensioners and pensioners organisations have approached her to express their concern about the consequences of the proposals for free passes?

Mrs. Chalker

I am not sure that the hon. Gentleman was listening when my right hon. Friend said clearly that the London Boroughs Association at its meeting on 19 October, confirmed in a letter to my Department on 20 October, said: The Association considers on the setting up of LRT the boroughs should assume responsibility for concessionary fares on the basis of the existing scheme. There is no danger to pensioners passes. It is high time that the GLC stopped the scare stories which it is using at ratepayers' expense to resist its own abolition, and realised that the responsibility for pensioners passes has been taken on by the boroughs. They have stated that clearly.

Mr. Cyril D. Townsend

Does my hon. Friend appreciate that, whoever finally is responsible for public transport in London, there is an acute need for capital investment? Will she take comfort from the fact that my right hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Mr. Howell) —the former Secretary of State no less—now regards calls for carefully costed capital projects as desirable, responsible and sensible?

Mrs. Chalker

I do take note of what my right hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Mr. Howell) says. I also note the sensible plans which the London Transport Executive has put forward on a three-year basis, which, of course, include plans for capital investment.

Mr. Cartwright

Does the Minister accept that for many families in the London area the top priority is better integration between the services provided by London Transport and those provided by British Rail? What consultations is the Minister having about that aspect?

Mrs. Chalker

I am happy to say that I have had a number of consultations with the passenger bodies representing London Transport and British Rail in the London and the south-east area. At the top of my priority list I put better service to the traveller in London because that traveller has suffered time and time again from the vagaries of the GLC's doctrinaire policies, which must stop.