§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport how Londoners will be informed of the decisions of London Regional Transport; whether its meetings will be open to the public; and whether London's elected local representatives will have access to that body.
§ Mrs. ChalkerBoard meetings of nationalised industries, of which London Regional Transport will be one, are not normally open to the public.
226WLRT will, however, be required by statute to consult local authorities and the London Regional Passengers' Committee (LRPC) in preparing its strategy statement, to publish an annual business plan and an annual report and to inform local authorities and the LRPC of its current plans with respect to the general level of fares and services.
In addition to its statutory obligations, I have no doubt that LRT will want to meet local authorities and the LRPC whenever necessary to discuss matters of mutual concern.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport how he will ensure that London Regional Transport has regard to borough council planning policies.
§ Mrs. ChalkerClause 7 of the London Regional Transport Bill requires LRT to consult London boroughs in the preparation of its strategy statements and to have regard to the development plan for any district which appears to LRT to be affected by any policies, proposals or plans which it proposes to set out in the statement.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he envisages any redundancies in public transport in London as a result of the establishment of London Regional Transport.
§ Mrs. ChalkerRedundancies will be a matter for management decision by the board of London Regional Transport. I note, however, that the options presented by London Transport in the three-year plan for 1985–86 to 1987–88, which it has now submitted to the GLC, all envisage reductions in staff numbers over the period of the plan.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the extent of the British Rail London network that he proposes to transfer to London Regional Transport under clauses 36 and 37 of the London Regional Transport Bill.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer the hon. Member to the statement in paragraph 32 of the White Paper "Public Transport in London" (Cmnd. 9004). We have no plans at present to use the powers in clauses 36 and 37 of the Bill.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of London Regional Transport costs he intends to set as a target to be covered by fare revenue; and how this compares with the present position in London Transport.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is not my right hon. Friend's intention to set a target in the form envisaged by the hon. Member. The proportion of London Regional Transport's costs to be met from fare revenue will depend on its success in cutting those costs. The greater its success in this, the easier it will be to hold fare levels down and to make available additional resources for capital investment.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport on what date London Regional Transport will take control of the British Rail network in London in accordance with clauses 36 and 37 of the London Regional Transport Bill if it becoms law.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe have made it clear that the powers in clauses 36 and 37 of the London Regional Transport Bill are reserve powers and that we hope not to have to use them. We have no plans to do so at present.