§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in view of the rising costs of private transport and of the need to conserve fuel, he will seek to improve public transport facilities in rural areas;
(2) if he will set up an inquiry into the transport problems in rural areas.
§ Mr. CarmichaelThe development of policies to promote the provision of services to meet the needs of particular areas is primarily a matter for the county councils concerned. I am, however, holding discussions with both sides of the bus industry and with the local authority associations about the problem of transport in rural areas, prior to deciding what steps the Government could take.