§ 13. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish his evaluation of the £80 million capital investment in the Moorgate to Bedford electrification scheme.
§ Mr. William RodgersNo, Sir. That would be contrary to general practice based on questions of confidentiality.
§ Mr. SpearingDoes not my right hon. Friend realise that the criteria for evaluation were set out in House of Commons Paper 269/74 and that, although this investment in the Bedford to Moorgate scheme is welcome, there are many other schemes at much less cost that might take priority within inner London, particularly the dockland area? Would he explain why this evaluation, like many other Government matters, must remain confidential?
§ Mr. RodgersI have always been in favour of the maximum disclosure by nationalised industries and others to the House and to the public, but there are some matters which inevitably come into an evaluation and which, if the information were freely available, could prejudice the commercial success of the railways to which my hon. Friends, as I am, are devoted.
§ Mr. MadelIs the Secretary of State aware that work on this scheme is due to start in January 1977? Can we have an assurance that work really will begin?
§ Mr. RodgersI certainly have no reason to believe that it will not.