Railways (Government Policy)

HC Deb 11 July 1973 vol 859 cc1500-3

5. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has made to the proposals of the Railways Board for the future development of British Rail.

29. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the future of the British Rail network, with particular reference to Scotland.

31. Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to publish a White Paper on his policy towards railways and if he will make a statement.

The Minister for Transport Industries (Mr. John Peyton)

I have at present nothing to add to what I said in the debate on 4th July.

Mr. Whitehead

Is the Minister aware that many railwaymen in my constituency were disappointed by the rather casual attitude taken by the right hon. Gentleman in our debate on the railways last week? As the right hon. Gentleman is taking his time, and as this Government claim to think the unthinkable, and frequently have to, will he undertake to make his decision in the light of a comprehensive review by his Department of the relations between available fuel supplies, transport systems and the environment, since this will probably lead him to the conclusion that it would be foolish to spend as little money on the railways as the Railways Board recommends? We should be spending far more.

Mr. Peyton

If the hon. Gentleman's constituents believe that there was anything casual in my attitude to the railways it is only because they have been rash enough to listen to him. As for the remainder of his supplementary question, all I say is that all relevant factors will be borne in mind.

Sir G. Nabarro

While congratulating my right hon. Friend on his impeccable debating behaviour the other day, may I ask him to take note of an omission from the debate due to the brevity of speeches all round—with one notable exception—and that was the realisation of the huge real estate value of the land that is available on British Railways and which now ought to be liquidated in order to reinforce the finances of the railways? Will my right hon. Friend remind British Railways of this before rendering their final report to this House?

Mr. Peyton

I assure my hon. Friend that no one is losing sight of the importance of the assets represented by British Railways land.

Mr. William Hamilton

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that in last week's debate he made no mention of the Scottish railway system? Will he undertake to examine the memorandum provided by the Scottish Railway Development Association, which recommends a Scottish electrified railway system that would cost less than one-twentieth of the estimated cost of the Maplin project? Will the right bon. Gentleman further undertake to use the powers that he and the Government have under the Local Employment Act and the Transport Act 1968 to help finance the railway system as part of the regional policies of the Government? Those powers have not been used in Scotland to the extent that they have in England.

Mr. Peyton

I did not omit to mention the Scottish railways the other day. I did not mention any specific part of the network. I am always ready to consider any representations or advice about the railways that I receive from Scotland.

Mr. David Steel

Is one of the relevant factors that the right hon. Gentleman says he will consider before publishing his response to British Railways—especially before he considers any further axing of railways in Scotland—the views of the European Commission, which indicate that it supports the belief that railways should be subsidised, in the interests of balanced regional development?

Mr. Peyton

The hon. Gentleman forces me to repeat the rather dull answer that I gave just now. All relevant factors will be borne in mind.

Dr. Stuttaford

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is not really a subsidy that the railways need? They need the taxpayer to pay for almost the whole of our railroad system. Unless this happens our roads will become increasingly clogged and there will be no future for transport in this country.

Mr. Peyton

My hon. Friend is going a little far in making a nightmare of what is admittedly a difficult situation.

Mr. Mulley

I do not wish to go over last week's debate again, but the Minister knows that there is great anxiety. Will he now give some indication when the Government intend to announce their policy for British Railways? Meanwhile, will the right hon. Gentleman withdraw any suggestion or directive that has been been made to British Railways that in developing their property assets they must share the proceeds with private developers? Would not it be much better for the nation and the railways if they had the benefit of any development they can make?

Mr. Peyton

I have given no directive to anyone on this or any other subject. It is a bad habit, which I have left to right hon. and hon. Members of the Opposition. As for the date of publication of the document to which I referred in the debate the other day, I do not think that it will be possible to produce it before the autumn. I am now engaged in a series of consultations with the railway unions and I should not like to hasten that process.