§ 5. Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements exist for enforcing consumer protection legislation in the buffet cars of trains.
§ Mr. John FraserI have no evidence that existing arrangements are inadequate.
§ Mr. BeithIs the hon. Gentleman aware that British Rail is attempting to serve a synthetic substitute for tea on its trains, that many local authority trading standards officers are worried about it and that some wish to ensure that it is not described as tea? How can enforcement take place when a train spends so little time in each local authority's area? Does the Minister assume that officers must get on and off trains even when they do not stop?
§ Mr. FraserI am not quite sure what the hon. Gentleman imbibed in Newcastle, but I believe that the matter is being investigated. Investigations by trading standards officers take place at the points of departure and arrival, and travellers also have recourse to the Transport Users' Consultative Council.
§ Mr. RostIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the price and quality of British Rail tea is irrelevant, as most people can no longer afford to travel by rail?
§ Mr. FraserI do not find that to be the case, and it is about time that the music hall jokes about British Rail came to an end.
§ Mr. WhiteheadIf my hon. Friend has discussions with British Rail about the price of tea and aspects of service in buffet cars, will he draw attention to the fact that the cars are occasionally advertised as being open when they are either closed OT open only to a selected section of the community, so that not even tea can be purchased by the majority of travellers?
§ Mr. FraserIf there are complaints about the lack of services, I am certainly prepared to look further at the matter.