§ 13. Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the fact that in the four weeks ended 22nd February only 39.7 per cent. of British Railways expresses arrived on time and only 66.1 per cent. within five minutes of booked time, and that both these percentages in any event are lower than for the same period last year, if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to institute a general revision of all schedules in the light of existing traffic conditions.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. This is a matter for the British Transport Commission, which is already giving it special attention. The introduction of diesel and electric motive power will make it possible to revise and speed up a number of schedules. At the same time, until the many engineering works on modernisation are completed, they are bound to cause occasional delays which regional managements are doing their best to keep to a minimum. The Commission does not consider that these temporary and varying delays can be allowed for by the revision of timetables which are brought out twice a year.
§ Mr. SnowCan not the Minister induce the British Transport Commission to publish more frequent and up-to-date records of train time-keeping? Is he aware that it is very difficult indeed, other than by searching through rather obscure railway journals, to find out what is happening? Is the Minister satisfied that the British Transport Commission is not inhibited by a fear that punctuality is rather reminiscent of Mussolini and that there is something discreditable in securing a high level of punctuality—a thing which, I regret to say, is not the experience of many people at the present moment?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI do not accept that at all. This is part of the price which we have to pay at the moment for modernisation. If one is rebuilding stations, changing the track and modernising, one will occassionally have to accept some delay.