§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to preserve and enhance rail services to rural areas.
§ Mr. FreemanBritish Rail is under an obligation to provide services which are comparable generally with those provided in 1988. There is no reason why privatisation of the railways should result in service reductions or closures. Subsidy is not dependent on public ownership of the railways and we have made it clear that we intend to provide subsidy where it is required to maintain socially necessary services.