§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will request Marplan, Ltd., when carrying out the sample survey on railway passengers using the Eridge-Hailsham service, to ascertain the passengers' views regarding a modern light railway service which could be operated on the existing track, as outlined in the study of the line undertaken by the Committee of the East Sussex Travellers' Association in conjunction with the proposals of Mr. J. P. Cunliffe, Consulting Engineer.]
§ LORD BESWICKNo, my Lords. This would be inappropriate to the purpose of this survey.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that very short Answer. But is he aware that the study to which I referred in my Question states fairly authoritatively that, with an overall capital expenditure in the region of £44,000, the annual income could be around £60,700, and the annual outgoings around £60,200, instead of a net loss of around £85,600 per annum, as at present?
May I ask the noble Lord one more question? If the results of the survey tend to show that alternative road transport does not compare favourably with rail transport, will the Minister of Transport request the Railways Board to consider implementing the proposals which I mentioned in my Question, so that a modern rail service may be introduced again?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, if the survey showed that there is a good deal of inconvenience, then it would be possible for the Minister to vary the conditions of his original sanction. But as for the plan which the Association submitted, I am afraid that it was not based upon an accurate economic assessment of the situation. The cost of laying the new track required would have worked out at something like £18,000 or £20,000 a mile, and the Association did not make any allowance for the cost of the diesel multiple units which would be required.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, is it not a fact that the diesel multiple units are quite readily available in other parts of the country? Also, I believe I am right in saying that there is no question of laying any track; it is just a question of the long-welding of the rails.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, it would be just a question of the long-welding of the rails, if they were not worn out and unsuitable for being welded. As for the diesel units, if they are in other parts of the country they are, I hope, being used. But I assure the noble Lord that these proposals were carefully considered and, as I say, the economics did not appear to support the suggestion put forward by the Association.