THE EARL OF MACCLESFIELDasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the necessity, in the interest of road safety, of keeping as much mineral traffic as possible on rail and off the public highways, they will direct British Rail not to close the line from Princes Risborough to Chinnor, which at present carries about 80,000 tons of coal per annum to Chinnor Cement Works, bearing in mind that any road traffic to the Works must use local village roads which are quite unsuitable for heavy vehicles.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, it is for the Railways Board to decide the routes upon which their freight traffic is carried and this is not a matter in which my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport has any power of direction. The Board have had the question of closing this freight line under consideration because of the physical condition of the road bridge over the line at Chinnor, but my right honourable friend has now been told that work on the replacement of the bridge is to be undertaken as soon as possible.
House adjourned at two minutes before eight o'clock.