§ 20. Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Transport what requests he has received from British Railways for approval for 945 capital expenditure on the modernisation of railway track and signalling between Portsmouth and Waterloo; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. CarmichaelNone, Sir.
§ Mr. JuddIs my hon. Friend aware that, while the people of Portsmouth are delighted that they are to have new railway rolling stock at last on that line, the line still gives the roughest ride in the country and the timing compares badly with services to the neighbouring city of Southampton? Will he respond positively if requests of this kind are forthcoming?
§ Mr. CarmichaelIf requests come from the Railways Board, they will be looked at with great care by my right hon. Friend, but up to now we have had no specific requests from the board on any projects such as my hon. Friend mentions—and it is, after all, up to the board to work out projects such as this.