asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) whether, in view of the increasing number of complaints on rail fares referred to him regarding Eastern Region of British Railways he will give urgent consideration to new consumer representation channels for the region;(2) if he is satisfied with the procedures of consumer consultation and advice on rail matters, fares and schedules; and whether he will make a statement on whether it would be appropriate now to set up new machinery.

The Government announced their new proposals for improving consumer consultation on all transport matters in the White Paper on the Nationalised Industries (Cmnd. 7131), published on 5th April.