§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Minister of Transport whom, apart from the Secretary of State for Scotland, he consults, before endorsing railway closure proposals, with regard to the social and economic impact of those closures on the areas and communities concerned; and whether this system of consultation applies in all Scottish cases.
§ Mr. MarplesApart from my right hon. Friend, whose responsibilities cover several fields, in all Scottish cases I consult others of my colleagues as appropriate—for example the Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Regional Development and the Minister of Defence. My colleagues and I also obtain advice as necessary from local authori-24W ties, regional boards for industry and other interested organisations including, on Highland cases, the Highland Transport Board and Highland Panel.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Minister of Transport in which cases of proposed closure in Scotland he has decided to postpone closure after consideration of the reports of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee; how long he normally has taken between receipt of the consultative committee reports and his giving a decision; what, besides transport hardship, were the chief factors which influenced him in favour of deferment of closure; and if he will state the length of the period of deferment of closure in each case.
§ Mr. MarplesI have refused consent for the present to the proposed closure of the Ayr-Kilmarnock passenger service, but have said that I would be prepared to reconsider it after at least a year, when the effect of other closures in the area could be seen. My consent to the closure of the services between Fraserburgh, and St. Combs was given on condition that closure was postponed till 1st May, 1965, to allow certain road-works to be completed. The average time taken to reach decisions so far has been 12 weeks.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Minister of Transport in which cases he has refused completely to sanction proposed closures of railway lines in Scotland.
§ Mr. MarplesOnly the Ayr-Kilmarnock passenger service.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Minister of Transport if he has received the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee on the proposed withdrawal of railway services in the North and West Highlands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarplesI have today received the Committee's reports on the hardship which would be caused by withdrawal of rail passenger services between Inverness, Wick and Thurso and between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh. I will consider the proposals in the light of these reports and of evidence on other matters, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I cannot at present say when I shall be able to reach a decision.
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§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Minister of Transport to what extent the effect of proposed railway passenger, livestock or freight service closures or curtailment west and north of Fort William and Inverness upon the social and economic life of the people of the Highlands and the and upon the rapidly growing tourist industry of the North-West will be taken into account by him in considering closure proposals, or in deciding the number of years before a closure takes effect.
§ Mr. MarplesI take full account of all social and economic factors relevant to a passenger closure proposal before reaching my decision.
Reductions of services and the closure of freight services are the responsibility of the Railways Board.