§ 2.30 p.m.
§ BARONESS ELLIOT OF HARWOODMy 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 a decision has been taken to close the "Waverley line" (between Waverley Station and St. Pancras via Galashiels, Hawick and Carlisle) to passenger services.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CHAMPION)My Lords, no such decision has been taken. My right honourable friend the Minister of Transport has informed the Railways Board that they may publish their proposal to withdraw passenger services from the line between Edinburgh and Carlisle, but this in no way pre-judges her eventual decision. The proposal will now be fully investigated. My right honourable friend will receive the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee on hardship and the advice of the Economic Planning Council on the planning implications.
§ BARONESS ELLIOT OF HARWOODMy Lords, I beg to thank the noble Lord for his Answer, but as a supplementary I should like to ask him whether, in view of the announcement of Her Majesty's Government that there are to be big developments in the Borders, including the building of a thousand houses in Galashiels and a big overspill building arrangement between Glasgow and Hawick, this is not a most unfortunate moment to have published this announcement about closure. Further, if it is published, as I understand it may be on July 26, it will coincide with the holiday period, when most of the people engaged in collecting the evidence for the purposes of the Committee will be on holiday, because the holiday month is August. There are eight county boroughs and three counties involved. Would the Minister not think that this is a most unfortunate moment to allow this to be published?
§ THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRYMy Lords—
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, I think I had better answer one question at a time, especially as the noble Lady's supplementary question was rather a long one. Her Majesty's Government have considered this. There will be seven weeks between publication and the holding of the T.U.C.C. public hearing, and I should have thought that even in Scotland they do not get seven weeks' holiday and therefore would be in a position to make such objections as they would wish.
§ THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRYMy Lords, may we take it that the noble Lord's first reply was one of considerable encouragement? And would he agree that, if the decision is adverse, it will result in a most unfortunate situation in the Border Counties, for whose development and well-being I, among many others, have a special concern? Will he do his best to give an undertaking that there will be a full opportunity for discussion at not too early a date during the holiday season?
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, I can only repeat what I said. After the date of publication there will be these seven weeks. But I can assure the noble Duke that all the people who will be responsible for any development proposals for this area will be fully consulted before the Minister finally takes her decision. I cannot give any undertaking that there will any discussion in the House about it, but certainly discussion will take place through the channels which are provided by Act of Parliament for the purpose.