§ 30. Sir William Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Transport what subjects were discussed at his recent meeting with the new leader of the Greater London Council.
§ Mr. FowlerWe discussed my concern that London should have the best possible transport system within the present tight public expenditure situation and the resources available for transport. Excessive spending on indiscriminate low fares policies which have no regard to real need can only be at the expense of other priorities such as maintaining and improving the system. This is a factor I shall have very much in mind when I consider this autumn, as a basis for allocating resources, the TPPs which local authorities have prepared.
I also made it clear that, although the decision whether to accept a GLC subvention to reduce fares was a matter for the British Railways Board, I could not allow the GLC unilaterally to increase the level of subsidy to BR, The external financing limit of BR represents that proportion of the total external resources available that in the Government's view could be taken by the railways. I am anxious to see commuter fares held down as far as possible, but this has to be achieved by improvements in productivity and efficiency. It is a major aim of the Government to hold to their public expenditure targets.