Railway Policy

HC Deb 17 October 1973 vol 861 cc197-9

22. Mr. Edward Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on railway policy.

Mr. Peyton

Yes, Sir, shortly.

Mr. Taylor

In the meantime, will my right hon. Friend say whether the cuts in Government spending which have been announced apply in any way to railway investment, and in particular when the advanced passenger train link between Scotland and England will be completed? When can we hope to have that service, and what time saving will be involved?

Mr. Peyton

On my hon. Friend's first point, I had better not try to anticipate the statement that I hope to make next month. I hope that he will put down a Question on the other points that he raised.

Mr. Bradley

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this is a matter of great public concern? Is he aware that his continued failure to make a decision has created grave uncertainty throughout the railway industry and a restriction on the management both to recruit and retain essential staff? Would he care to reveal to the House the degree of staff shortage that exists on British Railways and the manner in which this is affecting the level of services? Does he not accept that only a positive decision to expand the railway services will reverse this disastrous trend? Will he get a move on and make a decision?

Mr. Peyton

One thing I am clear about is that I do not have to follow too slavishly the Opposition's policy on the railways. If there is widespread uncertainty in the ranks of British Railways, much of it has been caused, and wantonly caused, by unnecessary remarks by hon. Members opposite.

Dr. Stuttaford

Is my right hon. Friend aware that British Railways' policy of closing regional offices and moving the staff—those who will go—to London is in exact contrast to the policy laid before the House yesterday by the Government?

Mr. Peyton

That is entirely a matter for the management of British Railways. No doubt the chairman of the board will take note of what my hon. Friend has said.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

Bearing in mind that Wales is already starved of adequate rail services, will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that there will be no further closures in Wales until the Graham Rees study of public transport in Wales is completed? Would it not be nonsensical to allow any more closures to take place until this Government-sponsored study reports?

Mr. Peyton

I could not give an undertaking like that, but I can refer the hon. Gentleman to the fact that under this Government about 200 miles of railway network have been closed, whereas 10 times that amount were closed by the Labour Government. There is nothing precipitate in this matter as far as we are concerned.