HC Deb 10 March 1969 vol 779 cc945-6
34. Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Minister of Transport how many railway station buildings have been destroyed by the British Railways Board.

Mr. Carmichael

I understand from the Railways Board that this information is not readily available.

Mr. Evans

Is the Minister aware that in Carmarthenshire at least a number of station buildings have been destroyed which were excellent structures, dry and solid, and could have been converted into dwellinghouses or put to other social use? Is he aware that if private rather than public anti-social people had been guilty of this kind of behaviour, they would probably have been imprisoned, and rightly so?

Mr. Carmichael

If the hon. Member has details of specific buildings such as he suggests which have been destroyed, I will certainly discuss the matter with the Railways Board. The decision, however, as to whether to retain a building, with all the costs involved, and perhaps altering it or changing its use, is a matter for the Railways Board.

Mr. Luard

May I ask my hon. Friend to ask British Railways to destroy Oxford Station as early as possible and replace it by a more adequate structure?

Mr. Carmichael

This is one of the problems. Many of the stations and buildings are Victorian and extremely difficult to maintain. Frequently the most economic thing to do is to knock them down.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

Can the Minister explain why the basic and simple statistic of the number of stations which have been destroyed is not available? Can he also say what procedure is followed by way of disposing of a station when it becomes vacant?

Mr. Carmichael

If the hon. Member looks at the Question again, he will see that it is extremely widely worded, asking how many railway station buildings have been destroyed by the British Railways Board". It gives no time limit. It merely asks about "railway station buildings". The demolition of unused buildings, platforms and overhead ironwork is going on all the time and has been going on for 20 years or more. It is a very wide Question. I think that, on reflection, the hon. Member will realise that had it been a little more specific it might have been possible to get more detailed figures.