HC Deb 13 November 1979 vol 973 cc507-8W
Mr. Foulkes

asked the Prime Minister what are the responsibilities of the Minister of Transport and the Secretary of State for Scotland for making decisions on development of transport services within Scotland and in particular the responsibility for authorising the expenditure on new railway developments.

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is generally responsible for the development of transport services in Scotland. He has direct responsibility for the trunk road network and is also responsible for the bus and ferry services provided by the Scottish Transport Group. He oversees the transport activities of the regional and islands councils through the system of transport policies and programmes and takes their expenditure on proposed railway developments into account in determining their total capital allocations each year. The responsibility for authorising other major railway developments in Scotland and for railway policy in general rests with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.