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Tory ilf.P.s Urge Aid for Rural Buses •
Page 46
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CONSERVATIVE back-benchers are beginning a new campaign at Westminster to save rural transport services from further deterioration. As a first step a deputation led by Mr. Rupert Speir, M.P. for Hexham, Northumberland, will. shortly meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Heathcote Amory, and put their case before him.
They will press for a differential petrol and oil-fuel tax for uneconomic rural bus services. Mr. Speir and his friends regard this concession as vital if rural communities are to be given reasonable transport facilities._
Tory M.P.s are much alarmed by the closing of railway branch lines. They are aWare that this process is likely to be accelerated by the new economy cuts planned"by British Railways. At the same time, they say, rural bus services are also disappearing because so_ many a them cannot pay their way with the high fuel
taX. • The strength of this campaign should not be underestimated, writes our politi cal correspondent. Mr. Speir has the party's powerful transport committee solidly behind him. Additional support is coming in from scores of other Conservative members.
Letters are being sent by backbenchers to the Whips, the Leader of the House, Mr. R. A. Butler, and even to the -Prime Minister himself.