Mr. Edward Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the proposed passenger transport authority for 341W the greater Glasgow area and its executive will be vested with powers to provide car parks, repair motor vehicles, sell petrol, oil, spare parts and car accessories, provide facilities for the purchase and consumption of food and drink, acquire and develop land, lend money, and construct, manufacture, produce, purchase, maintain or repair anything required for the purpose of their business;
(2) if the proposed passenger transport authority for the greater Glasgow area will have the power to issue precepts to rating authorities; and whether any payments made by rating authorities to the passenger transport authority will be reckonable expenditure for the purpose of rate support grants;
(3) whether the proposed passenger transport authority for greater Glasgow will be required to finance suburban train losses;
(4) who will appoint the members of the proposed passenger transport authority for greater Glasgow.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe Passenger Transport Authority and Passenger Transport Executive for the Greater Glasgow area which I have proposed as an interim measure pending the reorganisation of local government can only be established in terms of Part II of the Transport Act, 1968, which prescribes the powers (including power to make payments in respect of railway services), method of appointment, and method of financing of these bodies. The Bill to reform Scottish local government will, however, afford an opportunity to make appropriate and desirable amendments to the 1968 Act as to the powers and duties of the Secretary of State, the Passenger Transport Executive, and the regional authority for West Central Scotland which is to succeed the Passenger Transport Authority.