asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Scotland held a public hearing in the County Hall, Aberdeen, on 13th November, 1963, in connection with proposed railway closures in North-East Scotland, heard objections and reported to him; if he will now make public the report that Committee made to him; and what action he proposes to take on it.

I received at the end of December the Committee's reports on hardship for the four passenger closure proposals considered at its meetings on 13th and 14th November. Such reports are made to me in confidence. I have already announced my consent to the closure of the Fraserburgh-St. Combs service on condition that certain additional bus services are provided, and that closure doe, not take place until 1st May, 1965, in order to allow certain road works to be completed. I have also consented to closure of the Elgin-Lossiemouth service.

I am still considering the other two proposals in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Does not the Minister realise that the proposed closures affect the City of Aberdeen, the County of Aberdeen and a large section of the country, to the extent of wrecking trade, industry, commerce and employment in an area which is struggling against the drift to the South? Does not he realise that to keep secret the Report and the evidence upon which it is based is a disgraceful outrage to the people in that area?

The Report from the T.U.C.C. would be on hardship only. If the hon. and learned Gentleman has any further points additional to hardship, those, too, will be considered, if he will write to me. At the moment, there is a considerable amount of evidence which we are looking into and sifting carefully. The thoroughness with which we go into it is shown by the time we take to consider it.

Will my right hon. Friend publish a summary of the T.U.C.C.'s Report?

Each T.U.C.C. decides its own procedure. Most Committees issue a summary to the Press when they send me the completed report.

Did it in this case?

I could not answer that question without notice.

Will my right hon. Friend ensure that they get a speedy reply to the ones on which he has not reported, and will he ensure that when he replies they are given adequate time before review is made of closures if his answer is that they should be reprieved?

I think we must go into these cases thoroughly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I can promise my hon. Friend that I will do that.