asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the future prospects of the Manchester-Bury railway service in respect of which the Transport Users' Consultative Committee has reported to him.

I have only recently received the reports of the Committee on the Railway Board's proposals to withdraw certain passenger services on the lines linking Manchester, Bury, Bacup, Accrington and Rochdale.I shall reach my decisions as soon as I have completed my examination of their reports and all other relevant factors, but I cannot say just when this will be.