§ Mr. Brewisasked the Minister of Transport, consequent on the closing of the Stranraer-Dumfries line, what provision will be made for the collection and conveyance of urgent passenger-rated freight for London from Newton Stewart, Dalbeattie and Castle Douglas.
§ Mr. MarplesIt will be for the British Railways Board to decide what freight facilities it will provide when the line is closed to passenger traffic. I understand from it that its plans may depend to some extent on the decision yet to be taken on the proposal to close the Kirkcudbright-Dumfries passenger services.
§ Mr. Brewisasked the Minister of Transport, consequent on the closing of the Stranraer-Dumfries line, what provision will be made for improved 166W bus services in rural areas not served by the railway, such as Drum-more, Whithorn, Dairy and Colvend.
§ Mr. MarplesSince these areas were not directly served by the railway I could not require improvements to the local bus services in my conditions of consent to the closure. I must be notified, however, of alterations or proposed alterations in certain services which serve, particularly, Dairy and Whithorn as well as certain places on the line. Otherwise any question of improvement is primarily one for the operators and the Traffic Commissioners.