§ Mr. Bessellasked the Minister of Transport what action has been taken to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the maladministration revealed by the inquiry of the Parliamentary Commissioner 226W which occurred in relation to the consent to the closure of Manchester Central Station; and whether disciplinary action is proposed.
§ Mr. MarshThe Parliamentary Commissioner found that there had been a defect of administration in this case in that the Ministry did not, before imposing the first of several conditions to consent, check whether it would be enforceable by direction. He did not consider that this was maladministration which had caused injustice to the complainant. Moreover he was satisfied that it was not unreasonable for the Minister to rely on the Railways Board's assurances of their technical ability to comply with this condition. While I do not consider that disciplinary action is necessary, I am satisfied that there will be no recurrence.