HC Deb 19 January 1972 vol 829 cc453-5
27. Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a general direction to the British Railways Board to take no action to implement their recent announcement regarding railway workshop cut-backs and closures involving redundancies.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Eldon Griffiths)

No, Sir.

Mr. Stoddart

Is the Minister aware that that is a most cruel and unsatisfactory answer? Is he further aware that if British Railways persist in their present policy, with spin-offs about 7,000 will be added to the unemployment queue, 1,300 of whom live in my constituency? Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider his answer, particularly bearing in mind the great need for up-to-date wagons in particular, 6 per cent. of which will not be able to travel on fitted trains at 60 m.p.h. even after modernisation in 1975?

Mr. Griffiths

No one likes redundancies or unemployment, but the British Railways Board cannot be expected to retain workshop capacity for which it sees no future need.

Mr. Adley

On the whole question of the attitude of the board and how it reaches decisions, is my hon. Friend aware that at the moment it looks as though a decision is about to be taken by the board following representations from the Lord Mayor of Cardiff and South Wales Members, of all parties, and the board has given no opportunity to Members from England, particularly the South-West, to make similar representations? Will my hon. Friend ensure that political decisions of this nature are not taken without the board hearing fully and clearly both sides of the case?

Mr. Griffiths

The decision as to where British Railways headquarters should be located is for the board, and I can only suggest that my hon. Friend gets in touch with the Chairman of British Railways.

Mr. Mulley

Will the hon. Gentleman assure us that no part of the problem of unemployment in railway workshops is due to any direct action by the Government to discourage these workshops from taking orders from outside the railway service?

Mr. Griffiths

On the contrary, my right hon. Friend is most anxious that British Railways workshops should seek work wherever they can get it, both in this country and overseas.

28. Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now arranged to consult with the British Railways Board regarding their requirement for Government assistance in order to maintain railway workshops at their present output capacity and staff levels.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

My right hon. Friend is always prepared to discuss with the Chairman of British Railways any proposals which he might wish to bring forward.

Mr. Stoddart

I am glad to hear that the Minister will consider these proposals. Will he prod British Railways to get off their backside and produce some reasonable proposals?

Mr. Griffiths

My right hon. Friend and I have complete confidence in the Chairman of British Railways.

Mr. Ashton

Has not one of the problems over the past few years been that the railways have subcontracted millions of pounds worth of work to private wagon repair depots, and that some of this is still continuing? Private wagon repair depots are being given work while British Railways depots are being closed down, particularly in the Tucksford and other Nottinghamshire areas. Will the hon. Gentleman look into this?

Mr. Griffiths

It is for British Railways engineering department and the Chairman of the British Railways Board to determine where best commercially to place their contracts. I hope that they will continue to place them wherever they get the best value for money.