asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to prohibit all smoking in single-decker buses and limit smoking to the upper deck of double-decker public transport buses which are owned and controlled by them.

No. This is a question within the discretion of the Commission, as it is within the discretion of any other bus operator. As my right hon. Friend said recently in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne), we understand that the Commission keeps its practice on this matter constantly under review.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the recent report on smoking and lung cancer, he will give an assurance that he will not over-rule future decisions of the traffic commissioners to restrict smoking to the upper decks of public service vehicles.

While I appreciate the reason for the hon. Member's Question, I do not feel that it would be right for me to give the assurance he seeks, since I have to decide statutory appeals against the decisions of the Traffic Commissioners on the evidence and arguments before me in each case.