asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the procedures of, and the opportunities for, public participation in the public inquiries into rail fare increases referred to by the Under-Secretary of State in the Official Report, column 1765 of 23rd January.

I very much regret that I appear to have inadvertently misled the hon. Member and the House. There is in fact no arrangement such as I then described for rail fares. What I had in mind was the procedure which applies to the Traffic Commissioners, for increases in bus fares.