§ 37. Mr. Watsonasked the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the date for the start of the public inquiry into the proposed closure of the Settle to Carlisle line.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Transport Act 1962 provides that the area transport users consultative committees with whom objections to a closure proposal have been lodged may decide to hear objections and representations orally.
I understand that in the case of the British Railways Board's proposal to withdraw passenger services over the Settle—Carlisle line, the TUCCs concerned are unlikely to be ready to hold public hearings before the spring, though this is of course a matter for them.