§ Mr. Derek Pageasked the Minister of Transport whether she will give an assurance that no further rail closures will be approved whilst the security of petroleum supplies remains uncertain.
§ Mrs. CastleI would certainly take account of any limitation on fuel supplies in any case where it seemed to me to be a material consideration but I do not think a halt is called for in my consideration of closure proposals.
§ Mr. William Edwardsasked the Minister of Transport to what extent she takes into account the wider social implications of closing a railway line apart from the financial loss; how many social studies she has initiated into these implications; and when she will receive the reports of the study groups.
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§ Mrs. CastleI already receive detailed advice from area Transport Users Consultative Committees on the hardship aspects of passenger closure proposals and from Economic Planning Councils on their planning implications. I also take account of representations from local authorities and other bodies before reaching my decision. As regards social studies, the material in the Marplan Survey of three major closures has been studied by my department and I am arranging for copies of the Report to be placed in the Library of the House. For the future, I am anxious to make the fullest use of new analytical techniques in considering closure proposals; that is why I am launching a pilot social cost/benefit study of the Cambrian Coast Line.