§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Transport what resources he intends to make available to British Rail to enable it to provide suitable replacements of services or routes withdrawn from its network.
§ Mr. David MitchellIn dealing with any proposal for the withdrawal of a rail passenger service, we propose that it should be open to British Rail, the TUCC and my right hon. Friend to propose or require the provisions of a guaranteed and—where necessary—subsidised substitute bus service. Where consent to withdrawal of the rail service was given, the substitute bus service could be subsidised through the Government's grant to British Rail for its passenger service.