asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the closure options he has received from British Railways; and if he will confirm his intention to refuse authority for such closures.

I have received no list of closures from British Rail. As I told the House on Wednesday 7 November, the Railway Board's 1979 corporate review which was sent to me on 25 October contains financial evaluations of a number of options drawn up by the Board at the end of last year, including an option on closing some services.I have not yet discussed the corporate review with the Board. However, it is my firm policy that there should be no substantial cuts in the passenger rail network. I have therefore written to the chairman to make it clear that the Government rejects the option of substantial closures, and a copy of that letter is in the Library of the House.