§ 61. Mr. Danceasked the Minister of Transport what study he is making of the problem of deciding the correct balance between road and rail transport; and if he will give an assurance that, in pursuance of his powers under the Transport Act, 1962, he will withhold his consent to the closure of branch lines until adequate alternative transport is available for the towns and villages which they serve.
§ Mr. MarplesA large proportion of the work of my Department relates to the general problem to which my hon. Friend refers. In each individual case of an opposed rail passenger closure, where it is a question of giving (or withholding) my consent, I shall consider carefully, in the light of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee's report, the adequacy of alternative services and whether they require supplementation.