§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will relieve the British Railways Board of their responsibilities for subsidising privately operated bus services provided in connection with the withdrawal in the past of certain rail passenger services; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeytonI have decided that a variation should be made under Section 54(5) of the Transport Act, 1968, to the conditions imposed when consents were given by my predecessors at various times since 1964 to the discontinuance of certain rail passenger services. The main effect of this variation will be to remove from the Railways Board the residual obligation to bear the cost of certain rail replacement bus services for which the responsibility has not been transferred to the448W National Bus Company or the Scottish Transport Group and which have been in operation for more than two years.
It will be for the local authorities and other local interests concerned to consider in each case, where necessary, whether there is a continuing need for any of the bus services concerned, the possible use of the powers of grant-aid under Section 34 of the Transport Act, 1968, or any other ways of meeting the need. To give time for such consideration and for any necessary local consultations, the variation will not take effect until six months from today.