§ 26. Mr. Speedasked the Minister of Transport if he will request the Transport Users' Consultative Committees to publish punctuality statistics supplied to them by British Railways.
§ Mr. MarshNo, Sir. The Central Transport Consultative Committee already draws attention to punctuality trends in its Annual Reports, and I am content to leave to it the question whether any further publication of railway punctuality statistics is appropriate or desirable.
§ Mr. SpeedIs the Minister aware that these reports have shown that punctuality has been declining over the past year or so? Does he not think that the travelling public and the taxpayers have a right to be provided with a reasonable breakdown of the punctuality figures so that the bad regions are not lumped together with the good regions?
§ Mr. MarshIf one were to provide punctuality statistics in this way one would also have to provide the reasons for the loss of punctuality. I cannot see the purpose of publishing these, because British Rail is well aware of the need to improve punctuality.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorWill the Minister inquire why last year 44 per cent. of all express trains did not arrive at their scheduled time, and why 22.9 per cent. of other trains were also late? In view of these shocking figures, which demonstrate a great deal of inconvenience to the travelling public, has he ascertained what steps have been taken for improvements in the coming year?
§ Mr. MarshA great many things are being done to produce an improvement, but the problem here is underlined by the hon. Gentleman. He asks what were the reasons for the loss of punctuality, and then describes the position as being shocking in any case. This is the whole problem. If one gave the figures one would have to give the reasons for each individual loss of punctuality, and this is a problem of which British Rail is already well aware.