§ Q36. Mr. McCrindleasked the Prime Minister if she will consider the setting up of a wide-ranging inquiry into passenger transport executives in the United Kingdom in respect of management structures and responsibility to the relevant local authorities, taking also into account the balance between fares, rates and public subsidies and comparing support from public funds in major cities overseas.
§ Mr. WhitelawI have been asked to reply.
The Select Committee on Transport is examining the organisation of transport in London. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is reporting on bus operators, including the West Midlands passenger transport executive. I await these two reports with interest. In the 65W meantime I do not think it would be productive to set up a wide-ranging inquiry into the passenger transport executives.