§ Mr. LeighTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria British Rail is required to meet when considering a railway line for closure; and what consultation process it is required to hold.
§ Mr. PortilloWhen considering a railway line for closure British Rail should have regard to the objectives which were set for the chairman on 21 October 1986 and which were announced to the House the same day in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet572W (Mr. Chapman) at columns 772–74. The statutory railway closure procedure is set out in section 56 of the Transport Act 1962, as modified by section 54 of the Transport Act 1968.