HC Deb 03 December 1984 vol 69 cc36-7W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what the proposed capital expenditure of London Regional Transport will be in 1985–86.

Mrs. Chalker

About £250 million, including the docklands light railway and internally funded property development.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what he estimates the rate cost to be for funding London Regional Transport's 1985–86 capital expenditure out of revenue;

(2) what amount of London Regional Transport capital expenditure in 1985–86 will be paid out of revenue and be a charge on the rates.

Mrs. Chalker

To the extent that LRT's capital investment could be funded from internally generated revenues, the requirement for grant, and hence the cost to ratepayers, would be reduced.

18. Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what policy instructions he has given to London Regional Transport in respect of general employment policy.

Mrs. Chalker

None.

23. Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give his reasons for making changes to the composition of the board of London Regional Transport.

Mrs. Chalker

The London Regional Transport Act made specific provision enabling my right hon. Friend to remove any member of the LRT board without giving reasons, within three months from the appointed day. Before exercising these powers, he invited the relevant members of the London transport executive to come to see him. These meetings confirmed the view that the professional management needed the support of a strong non-executive board which was not hostile to the policy embodied in the Act of removing from the GLC the control of this major transport undertaking.