HC Deb 03 March 1952 vol 497 cc19-21
20. Mrs. Barbara Castle

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the unsatisfactory state of some railway property revealed by the collapse of a footbridge at Bury Station on 19th January, he will examine the need for an increase in the capital investment programme of the railways.

Mr. Maclay

I am advised that the collapse of the wooden footbridge at Bury cannot be ascribed to any limitation of the railway capital investment programme. In regard to the general question of restrictions on capital investment, the needs of the railways have been given very full consideration by H.M. Government in deciding on the proper allocation of available capital resources.

Mrs. Castle

Is the Minister aware that this accident has caused widespread concern as revealing the antiquated nature of much railway property which the Railway Executive cannot deal with because of the limitations on its capital investment programme? Does he not agree that the railways ought to have an extremely high priority in capital investment in view of the deplorable state of the railways when the Railway Executive took them over?

Mr. Maclay

I must confine myself to the limited application of the hon. Lady's Question, which was not a question of the capital investment involved, but the erosion of a number of wrought iron supports.

Mrs. Castle

Does the Minister agree that the bridge was a very antiquated structure and of a kind which made its proper examination very difficult? Is it not part of the legacy of out-of-date equipment which ought to be modernised?

Mr. Maclay

All of us realise, of course, the great need for increased capital investment in the railways. It is entirely a matter of relative priorities in a very difficult period.

Sir W. Smithers

Is it not a fact that the general deterioration of railway property is entirely due to nationalisation?

Mr. Ellis Smith

Did investigation show that the iron work could not be seen by the naked eye, as it was covered by woodwork, and that only when the woodwork was removed could the state of the iron be seen? If so, could arrangements be made to obviate that kind of thing in future?

Mr. Maclay

I would need notice of the detail of that Question, but the fact is that improved methods of inspection of railway bridges have been introduced, and were introduced shortly before this accident took place, but unfortunately they had not been used on this particular bridge.