§ 22. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any proposals for removing from the Greater London Council its responsibility for London Transport.
§ Mr. David HowellAlthough I have had no formal proposals, the idea has been canvassed by a number of hon. Members and by the chairman of London Transport in his recent evidence to the Select Committee on Transport.
§ 24. Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce new measures to improve public transport provision in London.
§ 30. Mr. Snapeasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce further measures to improve public transport provision in London.
§ Mr. EyreIt is one of my aims to improve public transport provision in London. That is why I have asked the GLC to stop pamphleteering and encouraging pointless strikes and instead to address in the annual transport plan it is now preparing the real questions it is its duty to tackle responsibly in order to secure integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services for London. I have asked it to consider how Londoners can get better bus and tube services for the £250 million subsidy over and above the fare box receipts London Transport is getting, who exactly is to benefit from these sums, coupled with an analysis of who is actually benefiting at present, and how Londoners can be provided with a greater choice of services.
I have also asked it to consider with me how the present confusion of roles between the GLC and London Transport could be sorted out with a view to a clearer and more arm's-length relationship between those who provide money to fulfil social and economic purposes on the one hand and the supply of services by operators in the most cost-effective way on the other. My aim is to get a better deal for Londoners.
§ 27. Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current level of subsidy given to London Transport expressed as a percentage of the total fares revenue.
§ Mr. EyreAfter the fares increase on 21 March the total subsidy including concessionary fares payments will amount to about 45 per cent. of the expected fares revenue. In addition, LT benefits from paying no interest on capital.