§ 3.13 p.m.
§ LORD WISEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the annual saving, if any, at Flordon, Forncett, Tivetshall, Burston, Wellis, Finningham, Haughley and Needham Market Stations by reason of the proposed closing to passenger traffic of these stations between Norwich and Ipswich; and, whether, before any are closed, a thorough investigation will be made as to the hardship which will be caused to passengers who regularly use these stations to travel to the towns covered by this section of the railway for educational, business, domestic and recreational purposes.]
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, the Railways Board have not yet given statutory notice under Section 56 of the Transport Act of a proposal to close these stations. If and when they do so, users will have an opportunity to lodge objections with the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for East Anglia. The Committee will consider their objections and report to my right honourable friend on the hardship they consider would arise from closure. He will decide whether to give his consent after full consideration of the hardship to users and all other relevant factors.
It is the Board's practice to give the Consultative Committee a statement of the direct costs and receipts attributable to a passenger service proposed for closure. This information is passed on to the objectors by the Committee. But at this stage, when the Board have not yet announced their proposals, my right honourable friend has no information as to what the financial effects would be.
§ LORD WISEMy Lords, is it not the fact that these closures have already been announced in the Press?
§ LORD CHESHAMOfficially and statutorily, no, my Lords; but I am told that there have been rumours of 1047 what are thought to be the Railways Board's plans. That is what has been in the Press.