§ Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to withdraw the proposals now pending for the closure of railways or Lines for passenger traffic in Wales until such time as the Report of the Council 54W for Wales and Monmouthshire on the Rural Transport Problem in Wales has been considered by Parliament and himself.
§ Mr. MarplesNo. With the railway deficit running at over £150 million a year I should not be justified in preventing them from proposing such closures. Section 56 of the Transport Act, 1962, ensures that, as recommended by the Council, the social consequences of any proposed closures will be fully considered.