asked the Minister of Transport if he will set up an independent study group to consider the problem posed in paragraphs 124 to 126 of the Report of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries on British Railways, and to report their findings on the relativity of costs per passenger-mile and ton-mile as between the rail and road operator.

No. The relativity of track costs for the railways and road operators does not provide a basis for judging whether both forms of transport are treated fairly.