asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his department has made of the effect of a monorail system on commuter traffic in large cities.

Various rapid transit systems, including those using the monorail principle, have been examined as part of the Manchester Rapid Transit Study completed in 1967. A medium-capacity monorail system is now being carefully looked at.

Would my hon. Friend not agree that one of the problems in a transport system for a town like London is that, whereas there are authorities responsible for a system of transport like buses or trains, it is no one's specific responsibility to investigate new modes of transport? Would he look into this?

My hon. Friend has put his finger on the problem of needing to look at all forms of transport together. My Department, in co-operation with some 50 cities, is doing precisely that at the moment, particularly in Birmingham and Newcastle, where we are paying no less than 50 per cent. of the cost.