asked the Minister of Transport when he hopes to make a statement as to the outcome of his discussion with the chairman of British Railways over the ban on bicycles on commuter trains.

As my hon. Friend knows, I have written to the chairman asking him to consider whether the board could adopt a more flexible attitude towards the carriage of bicycles on commuter trains. I understand that the board is now considering what might be done. I very much hope that it will be able to devise a more acceptable scheme.