HL Deb 23 February 1972 vol 328 cc511-2
LORD FERRIER

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether British Railways intend to have observation cars running once again in the Ford William/Mallaig and Inverness/Kyle of Lochalsh lines during 1972 tourist season.]

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, I am informed that the observation cars were withdrawn from service in 1967 because it was no longer economical to maintain them. They have since been sold. The Railways Board have no plans to provide new vehicles because the additional revenue which they would bring would not justify the capital investment involved.

LORD FERRIER

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply which, in a measure, I anticipated. Is it not a fact that one of the cars has been broken up and that the other is in America on a commercial trip? Would not the noble Lord agree that in the absence of such facilities the full profit-earning capacity of these highly scenic lines has not been properly developed by the Railways Board?

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, with regard to the first part of my noble friend's supplementary question, my information is that neither of the two cars involved was destroyed. One was sold to Mr. Alan Pegler, who also owns the Flying Scotsman, and is I believe in the United States with him at the present time. The other belongs to a private railway in the Dart Valley in Devonshire where it is being used. On the second part of my noble friend's supplementary question, the Railways Board has said that the additional revenue which would be earned would nowhere near meet the costs of constructing and operating these vehicles, but I will pass on the noble Lord's remarks.

LORD AVEBURY

My Lords, whatever the merits of the Question may be is it not a matter of day-to-day management by British Rail about what they do or do not do with observation cars; and should not measures be taken to protect the Order Paper against abuses by noble Lords who put down Questions which have no possible connection with Ministerial responsibility?

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

No, my Lords. I do not think it unfair that noble Lords in this House and Members of another place should be able to ask Questions. We can pass on the views of the Board.