§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what research he has commissioned or experimentation he will commission into the likely effects of deregulation of public transport as proposed in the Government's White Paper on buses—Cmnd. 9300—in urban and rural areas in Scotland;
346W(2) what assessment he has made of experience of deregulation in Hereford and Australia in the context of public transport needs in the regions and islands of Scotland.
§ Mr. AncramThe Scottish Development Department keeps in close touch both with relevant research on public transport and with local transport needs and circumstances in Scotland and will continue to do so.