§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Minister of Transport if he will list the closure options he has received from British Railways; and if he will confirm his intention to refuse authority for such closures.
§ Mr. FowlerI have received no list of closures from British Rail. As I told the House on Wednesday 7 November, the Railway Board's 1979 corporate review which was sent to me on 25 October contains financial evaluations of a number of options drawn up by the Board at the end of last year, including an option on closing some services.
I have not yet discussed the corporate review with the Board. However, it is my firm policy that there should be no substantial cuts in the passenger rail network. I have therefore written to the chairman to make it clear that the Government rejects the option of substantial closures, and a copy of that letter is in the Library of the House.