HC Deb 31 July 1978 vol 955 cc177-8W
Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards an agreement with Essex county council and other local authorities in the Home Counties on the provision of financial support towards public transport undertakings which provide services used by commuters, such as the Epping-Ongar section of the Central line.

Mr. William Rodgers

The counties' transport policy and programme submissions for 1979 to 1984 are due in on 1st August. Until these have been received and examined by my Department I will not know whether they contain provision for such financial support.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the study, announced in Command Paper No. 7038, into what further information about their operations can be published by the several public transport bodies concerned.

Mr. Horam

The available information is as follows. 1954 figures are included as information is not readily available for earlier years:

Mr. William Rodgers

In the light of the report of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries, the National Bus Company has agreed to publish, as recommended by the Select Committee, the revenue, support payments, carryings and vehicle mileage for their subsidiary companies. The British Railways Board will publish in its annual report an analysis, as soon as available, by passenger business sectors of actual expenses, revenues, loaded and empty train miles, seat miles, passenger journeys and passenger miles. It will also provide a new analysis of their manpower, and of carryings on major inter-urban routes. The London Transport Executive has already published in its 1977 report and accounts virtually all the information on public transport traffic in the London area as recommended by the Select Committee. Some other matters which the Select Committee recommended for publication will be kept under review, but it is not proposed that the British Railways Board should regularly publish details of sales of ticket types. Discussions are being pursued with the Passenger Transport Executives and, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, with the Scottish Transport Group.