§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek authority to write off the capital debt of the National Bus Company as recommended by the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries in 1978.
§ Mr. FowlerI have no reason to depart from the view, set out in the Government's reply to the Select Committee, that the NBC should operate on a sound commercial basis and meet all the costs of its operations, including interest charges. I am however giving further consideration to the question in the light of the concern expressed by the company about the way in which interest charges affect the circumstances of the individual operating companies. I will shortly be meeting NBC management and union representatives to hear their views on this and other issues.