asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure the preservation of the Mersey ferries during the three years following the proposed abolition of the Merseyside county council; and if he will make a statement.

The operation of the ferries after the abolition of the county council will remain the responsibility of the passenger transport executive, working within the policies determined by the new passenger transport authority.

Subject of investigation	Chairman	Date established	Date of report
Lorries, People and the Environment	Sir Arthur Armitage	24 July 1979	9 December 1980
Review of Railway Finances	Sir David Serpell	5 May 1982	20 December 1982
Pedestrian Safety at Public Road Level Crossings	Rt. Hon. Sally Oppenheim, MP	22 November 1982	20 April 1983
Review of Public Utilities Street Works Act (PUSWA)	Professor Michael Home, OBE	30 January 1984	Expected late Spring 1985
Review of Arrangements for Protecting the Clients of Air Travel Organisers	Sir Peter Lane	12 April 1984	7 June 1984
Review of Road Traffic Law	Dr. Peter North	31 January 1985

Information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The list excludes standing advisory committees, departmental inquiries into accidents and public inquiries into road schemes. If my hon. Friend would like further information, I should be happy to write to him.