HC Deb 01 June 1965 vol 713 cc1490-1
12. Mr. Fisher

asked the Minister of Overseas Development why she officially requested British Railways to delay the departure of the 10 p.m. night ferry train from Victoria Station on 11th May.

Mrs. Castle

I had arranged to fly to Paris on 12th May for discussions with Ministers in the French Government concerned with aid to developing countries as part of the closer collaboration between our two countries agreed between the Prime Minister and President de Gaulle at their recent talks. But a few days before, I was told by my medical advisers that in view of the treatment for a nasal infection which I was receiving it would be inadvisable for me to travel by air. I therefore asked British Railways whether, in order to avoid my cancelling the visit at short notice, they would be willing to delay the departure of the night ferry on the 11th May for a few minutes so as to enable me to catch it after voting in the 10 o'clock Division that night, and they very kindly arranged to do so.

Mr. Fisher

Is the right hon. Lady aware that this practice is becoming altogether too prevalent? It happened before, in 1962, when the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) was very critical of one of my right hon. Friends for doing the same thing. On the occasion to which the Question relates, a Southern Region spokesman is reported to have said, "We would not do this for just anybody, but we feel justified in doing it for a member of the Government." Is that really a proper attitude for the right hon. Lady and a publicly-owned undertaking to adopt?

Mrs. Castle

I am very surprised at the hon. Gentleman's attitude. I doubt whether he is being very serious about this. To begin with, one cannot say that the practice is becoming prevalent when, as the hon. Gentleman said, the last occasion was June, 1962, when the Home Secretary, Mr. Butler, as he then was, asked for a train to be held up for half an hour when he was returning to London from his holiday.

Obviously when deciding whether to do this British Railways must consider the urgency of the business of the Minister concerned, and also whether there is likely to be any inconvenience to passengers. They were satisfied in this case that there would be none, and indeed the train arrived on time both at Dover and at Paris.

Mr. Manuel

Is my right hon. Friend aware that right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite are constantly complaining about snooping by Government officials and others into the affairs of individuals? Is it not carrying it a little too far when a Member makes an attack of this kind?

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Minister is responsible for Overseas Development, not for expressing an opinion about Questions asked from the other side.

Mr. Manuel

On a point of order. I understood that the Question concerned British Railways being officially requested to delay the departure of the 10 p.m. ferry from Victoria Station on 11th May. It was arising from that Question that I put my supplementary question.

Mr. Speaker

The supplementary question was out of order for the reason that I have given. The Minister's stopping of the train was done in her official capacity. That was the difference.