§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of Transport if she will issue a general direction to the London Transport Board to bring down bus and Underground fares in order to attract the travelling public back to public transport and so relieve the overcrowded roads in London of the mass of cars that prevent the flow of traffic which frequently includes lines of almost empty buses.
§ Mr. SwinglerMy right hon. Friend is progressively dealing with London's transport problems in the comprehensive way which my hon. Friend's Question implies is needed. As one interim measure, she is seeking powers to provide further financial assistance to the London Transport Board. Meanwhile, the reasons why the Government decided late last year not to ask for further deferment of fares increases proposed earlier still stand.