§ Lord Rankeillourasked Her Majesty's Government:
What they consider the effect will be on West Highland business and on the Belford Hospital of their decision to withdraw their subsidy from the sleeper and motorail services between Fort William and Euston.
§ Viscount GoschenThese are matters for the Franchising Director. He has announced that, in the light of the low level of demand and the high cost of operating these services, he does not intend to include sleeper and motorail services between Fort William and Euston in the Passenger Service Requirement for franchises. His assessment is that the level of support required by these services would be better directed towards other passenger services. We understand that BR has yet to take final decisions on these services in the light of the Franchising Director's decision.