Cabinet Secretaries' notebooks (CAB 195/18): Transport - rural bus service

Transport: rural bus service

H.W.

As in memo.

H.A.

Rural M.P.'s (Tories) feel we have done little on this.  Services are deteriorating  Pressure to remove petrol & diesel duty fr. rural services.  But we cant draw a line.  Gave limited assistance to all bus services.  Our supporters say it isn't enough for the rural - and want at least an enquiry, so we can say so in Election.  But it prob. means a recommn. for subsidy - in 18-24 months' time.
 If approved, I wd. wish to be consulted on composn. of Cttee.

R.A.B.

Wd. avoid discn. on Finance Bill.
 On merits, there is as much rural trouble over electricity & sewerage.

J.M.

If we have a Cttee., it shd. cover Scotland.
  Agreed : Cttee. to cover Scotland.  Composn. to be settled, in consultn. with H.A.

Taken from C.C. 30(59) - Meeting held on 7 May 1959