§ Sir P. Agnewasked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction in the public interest to the British Railways Board that, in sections of line which are not proposed for total closure but only for withdrawal of passenger 297W service, he will not consent to withdrawal of passenger service from any station without first requiring the Board to examine and report on the practicability of converting it into an unstaffed halt.
§ Mr. MarplesNo. I am sure that the Board in the course of its regular298W review of services considers fully the possibility of converting stations to unstaffed halts. But if I decide that a station proposed for closure should be kept open I would expect the Board to consider further feasible economies in operating it.