§ Mr. Andersonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that British Railways is now operating the Newport—Cheltenham local services on the basis of direct costs of £70,200; and whether it was on these costs or on the earlier estimate of £96,000 that he based his decision not to give grant aid to this service.
§ Mr. MarshI am of course aware both of the reduction in the Board's estimate of direct costs and of the changes in the service on this route. But my 77W decision not to grant-aid this local service was based on the long-term cost of retaining it and not on any particular figure of direct costs. The difference between the two bases of calculation was explained in my Answer to my hon. Friend on 12th February, 1969.—[Vol. 777, c. 138.]