§ 2.43 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy 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 why they are not prepared to suspend all withdrawals of rail services and closure of stations until the Transport Bill has received the Royal Assent.]
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, the Government's aim is to stabilise the rail network as soon as possible so that the new policy embodied in the Bill can have its full effect. Whore the customary detailed examination of a closure proposal indicates that consent is the only possible conclusion, it is clearly right that the decision should be implemented as quickly as possible.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Would he not agree that certain lines at present under the threat of closure could be reconsidered under Clause 36 of the Transport Bill? Is it not therefore totally unfair to allow these closures to proceed?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, full consideration is given to the railways, as indicated in the noble Earl's supplementary question. The Minister, in considering closure proposals, can, and does at present, take full account of the possibility of grant.
§ THE EARL OF KINNOULLMy Lords, with respect to the noble Lord, I do not think this can possibly be so, because under the clause a new grant is provided—a power which at present the Minister does not have.
LORD REAMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the Answer to the Question as printed on the Order Paper is: "Yes; they are not prepared"?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, if the noble Lord would like me to repeat the Answer, I would gladly do so, but I think he has the gist of it.