asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, owing to the disparity between omnibus and railway fares, many short-distance trains are lightly loaded; and whether he will arrange a more flexible basis of charges so that in appropriate circumstances reduction in the standard railway fares may be applied.

Differences in fares are only one of the factors affecting the distribution of traffic between omnibus and local train services. While there are various types of rail fares designed to meet the needs of different classes of users, including fares below the appropriate standard, local departures from the normal basis of any type of fare create difficulties in relation to other parts of the same railway system. As regards the future system of charges I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne), on 28th July.

While I appreciate the difficulties of arriving at such an arrangement, may I ask my hon. Friend if he does not realise that, while there are queues waiting for buses, many short distance trains are running comparatively lightly loaded; and that it ought not to be an insuperable problem to use both methods of transport in the public interest?

Yes, Sir. I appreciate that, but local variations in train fares are very difficult indeed. The whole problem will, of course, be gone into by the British Transport Commission.