§ Mr. Popplewellasked the Minister of Transport why he has declined to approve the proposal of the British Railways Board to tender for the manufacture of privately-owned railway 212W equipment to be used on British Railways or on the railways of any other Board.
§ Mr. MarplesThis proposal would not have been in accordance with the Government's policy, which was made clear on several occasions when the Transport Act, 1962, was before Parliament. The primary task of the British Railways Board is to provide railway services, and the Government consider that, as hitherto, there is at present no justification for the nationalised, transport undertakings entering the field of manufacture for outside customers.