HC Deb 25 February 1976 vol 906 cc239-40W
47. Mr. Dorant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with British Railways and the unions on the future of British Rail.

Dr. Gilbert

I held a joint meeting with the Railways Board and the Trade Union representatives on 30th October. Since then both my right hon. Friend and I have had further meetings with them separately.

53. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on the future of the railways.

Dr. Gilbert

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 14th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 361.]

65. Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now issue the consultation document on the future of the rail network.

Dr. Gilbert

The railways will be covered in the consultation document on future transport policy which my right hon. Friend hopes to issue shortly.

70. Sir John Rodgers

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what facts and figures he has to support his new contention that in certain parts of the country a major proportion of the rail subsidy to keep fares down goes to the better off sections of the community.

Dr. Gilbert

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Islington, North (Mr. O'Halloran) on 4th February—[Vol. 904, c. 637–8.]