4. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement to clarify the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to the de-nationalisation of railway lines closed by his consent and their future operation by private enterprise.
§ Mr. CarmichaelOnce they have received statutory consent to the withdrawal of passenger services the Railways Board are free to dispose of a railway line, though they would normally offer the formation first to the local authority, and would not dispose of it without consulting my right hon. Friend. We would always give sympathetic consideration to applications for the necessary statutory orders if any body wished to purchase the line and run services on it.