§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Minister of Transport what assumptions he made about the size of bus and rail fare increases in 1980–81 in arriving at his estimated expenditure on roads and transport in Cmnd. 7746.
§ Mr. FowlerDecisions on fares are for the operators to take. They depend on many factors besides the changes in public expenditure programmes. The reduction of £22 million proposed in the provision for grant to British Railways Board in 1980–81 includes £13 million which had already been planned by the previous Administration. Local authorities retain the ultimate decision as to how they allocate expenditure among different transport purposes, including revenue support for buses.