§ 75. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the closing down of rural omnibus services in Lincolnshire is causing great hardship to village people; and if he will set up a committee to investigate all the aspects of rural transport and so help to retard the drift of population from the smaller villages to the towns.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI know that bus operators in Lincolnshire and elsewhere have been forced to withdraw some of their uneconomic services, and I very much hope that the reduction in vehicle tax will help substantially to arrest the decline. I fully realise the difficulties of those who are left without other means of transport, and I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.