Railways (Financial Allocations)

Mr. Skeet
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes making available to British Railways further allocations to support the Bedford-Bletchley Railway; and whether it is still his policy to secure local authority participation by ultimately making funds available to county authorities for subsequent allocation to British Railways.

Mr. William Rodgers
Exchequer support will continue to be given to the passenger railway system as a whole. My policy on the future of cost-ineffective local railway services will be decided in the light of consultations on the proposals in paragraphs 98–105 of the White Paper on Transport Policy (Cmnd. 6836).