§ 3.39 p.m.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw (Pudsey)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to denationalise catering facilities provided by British Transport Hotels Limited for British Rail; and to make consequential provisions in relation thereto.Let me begin by stressing that in recent times British Rail has shown a much greater sensitivity to the need to improve standards and performance of British Rail catering both on certain station buffets and on trains. But the fact remains—in my view it is a principle which is not easily bucked—that British Rail primarily exists to run an effective and efficient railway service, which demands a much greater concentration of effort on capital projects to improve track, trains and allied engineering services than it does to maintain an efficient kitchen and dining car or a wide variety of food in a station buffet. Hence it has been obvious for many years that the catering side of British Rail is very much the Cinderella of the outfit.This apparently embarrassing conflict was well set out in a report by British Rail executives in evidence to Sub-Committee A of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries in February 1977. In an interview with that Committee on 8th February 1977, the director of British Rail responsible said:
These two aims of satisfying the customer and keeping marketing costs down to manageable proportions are sometimes in conflict, not surprisingly, and one tries to achieve a balance by sensitive judgment of priorities … This balance between a service and the cost of providing it is something which is regularly under review. In fact, there has been over recent years an ongoing—and it is still going on—respecification of the train catering requirement to meet changed eating habits.The first purpose of this Bill, therefore, is to relieve British Rail of the embarrassment of seeking to be responsible for two aspects of travellers' requirements which are so frequently in conflict.I do not consider that the catering facilities of British Rail should be regarded as a marketing embarrassment when it might be possible for them to be operated by the private sector as the major objective of a business. Secondly, in terms of economic performance, the whole House would be anxious to see 1383 that British Rail should continue to take developments which lead to profitable business.
From the latest public figures available, catering on stations generated a surplus of £1.2 million before paying rentals of £0.6 million. But train catering showed an operating net loss of £2.4 million in maintaining catering service facilities on more than 900 weekly trains. Therefore, the overall position of catering on stations and on trains is one of running at a very substantial loss.
Perhaps the House should understand that catering is one of the activities carried out by a subsidiary of British Transport Hotels Ltd., the subsidiary being known as Travellers-Fare. At the end of 1976, BTH operated some 181 station and catering units. But it also had 55 operating units in the hands of tenants. So the idea of franchising in respect of British Rail's operation is far from new. Indeed, it is established.
It will be a second objective of my Bill, therefore, to encourage this trend to franchising which has been examined frequently as a possible solution to British Rail's station catering problems. For evidence of this, I turn to the Central Transport Users' Consultative Council, in whose 1977 annual report the matter of franchising was discussed. I quote from page 10 of that report:
To the Sub-Committee's suggestion that where train catering facilities appeared to be uneconomical they could perhaps be provided by the franchise system, the Board"—the British Rail board—replied that the standards specified by the Passenger Business could not be guaranteed if the train catering was fragmented in this way. The Committee decided that the Sub-Committee"—of the Transport Consultative Committee—should investigate the advantages or disadvantages of using the franchise system for train catering.It is only right equally to inform the House that the Sub-Committee to which I referred examined this possibility and gave some reasons why in its view it might not be possible. Amongst the reasons given were, first, that the private entrepreneur might consider the risks too great in view of the lack of storage and refrigeration facilities and the lack of sufficient detail regarding trade levels, 1384 secondly, that of having to operate as self-employed with all the problems of VAT regulations, thirdly, that trade union opposition was most likely, and, fourthly, that choosing a suitable route for an experiment might be difficult.I submit that these are not sufficient reasons for deciding that a franchising arrangement for British Rail catering cannot be run and manned. It is this lack of flexibility which formed part of the criticism of British Rail by the Sub-Committee of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries in its report in 1977.
The answer was in part clear—that such flexibility required readapting the system, and that would require modification of existing vehicles and capital reinvestment. None would deny this as being necessary, but the point is that catering services are regarded as being so low on the list of priorities that their chances of getting a slice of British Rail's investment cake are very slim, and the travelling public today are being served in ancient rolling stock under an inflexible system.
I do not see why this should not be livened up by a healthy injection of competition. Clearly, the most fruitful ground for this to occur would be on railway station buffets and other catering services where there are increasing signs that Travellers-Fare, while seeking to modify its menu and pricing, is still offering fairly unappetising services.
Why is it that many station buffets close at 8 p.m.? Why is it that many do not open before 10 a.m. on Sundays? It is largely because these institutions are run as part of a greater institution, namely British Rail, and are not run by normal competitive criteria which would provide keener services for the travelling consumer.
It would be possible to attract the public to eating in railway station restaurants if their service and pricing were improved. Such is the case on the Continent. Many gourmets descend on the Gare de l'Est in Paris and other French stations primarily for eating rather than for travelling purposes. Although within the British Transport Hotels there are many first-class hotels, they tend to be those less associated with their proximity to railway services than with their 1385 proximity to leisure activities such as golf at Turnbury or Gleneagles. The principle here is quite clearly that to tailor a package to the holidaymaker and tourist is good, but that to tailor a package to those who happen to travel on British Rail is very difficult and unprofitable. In my view, the public deserve the best catering available whenever they travel, and they have been expressing concern in increasing numbers that the standards have slipped badly.
I am aware that the management of British Rail has just announced for a temporary period a reduction of some prices of British Rail foods. The cost of coffee and biscuits has dropped from 29p to 24p and that of coffee and cheese sandwiches from 51p to 44p. A standard cup of powdered coffee plus hot water will now be 15p instead of 17p on most services. However, anyone who has the good fortune to consume it in a railway dining car will find that it still costs 24p. That is because the menu describes the cup of coffee as being "freshly made".
There has been a clear tendency for British Rail to concentrate on the expense account diner instead of on the travelling family. But even the business man must be getting a little doubtful when he is served grilled salmon maitre d'hotel at £3.85 or with chicken stanley at £3.40, so called because it is presumed to be chicken.
Then, of course, there are wines from the British Transport Hotel cellars, located in Derby, I believe, including the new French table versions vin blanc, vin rouge and vin rosé, which are the Freeman, Hardy and Willis amongst viniculturists.
The matter of principle which causes most concern remains the extent to which British Rail should enjoy the monopoly of catering services to its passengers as well as the monopoly of selling them tickets and travel. As the Price Commission said in paragraph 153 of its recent report, the British Rail board—
are actively developing station trading facilities including the development of franchise arrangements. The catering service on trains is currently being reviewed.I accept that it is a necessary provision. But it is clear that it is seen as a marketing cost designed to hold and guarantee business when it could and should be seen as a marketing oppor 1386 tunity in its own right. That is why the development of franchising, which the British Rail board apparently is considering, should be taken further and why it should become by Act of Parliament a requirement that it seeks alternative sources of capital to run and develop the catering services for the travelling public on British Rail.Just as British Rail offers Gold Star weekend packages at their hotels, it surely could offer an inclusive meal ticket for family snack facilities to enable Awayday returns to become a more attractive form of travel to a wider number of people.
This Bill, therefore, will be in the interests not only of British Rail, which seeks to eliminate losses and yet is confined by restraints on capital expenditure, but also of the travelling public, who will be able to obtain better pricing through competition, a wider variety of foods and from station services a source of catering which could and should become a matter of local interest and pride.
I commend the Bill to the House.
§ 3.49 p.m.
§ Mr. SpeakerDoes the hon. Member wish to oppose the Bill?
§ Mr. BuchananI do, Sir.
Throughout the period that the hon. Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw) has been in the House, I have served on various Committees with him and have formed a high opinion of his ability and have appreciated his pleasant personality. It is therefore more in sorrow than in anger that I oppose the Bill, because he is stooping to the tedious repetition of the anti-nationalisation argument perpetuated by the Conservative Party.
The hon. Member is seeking the denationalisation of British Rail catering. Which part? Does he mean the hotels which make a profit, the station buffets which make a profit, or the train catering which makes a huge loss? There are no prizes for the answer to that one.
I do not think that the hon. Gentleman is acquainted with the realities of the situation. It is true that British Rail catering makes a loss. The hotels make a profit of about £850,000, the station buffets about £750,000. But there is a 1387 loss on train catering of £2,300,000, which is less than 1 per cent. of the Inter-City passenger revenue. Its impact on the generality of passenger fares is minuscule. To say that passengers who do not participate in the catering subsidise those who do is arrant nonsense.
One can consider our own Refreshment Department. One of its great handicaps is that it can never estimate the needs. On a running three-line Whip, the Dining Room might be empty. On a one-line Whip, when it seems that hardly anyone is about, the Dining Room might be packed. A similar impossibility of gauging needs leads British Rail, particularly on its trains, into this deficit.
We seldom hear complaints about similar losses on airlines, simply because a meal is included in the marketing package. If the catering were costed separately, I am sure that it would show quite a loss.
The hon. Member said nothing about withdrawing catering from British trains, but the last time that private enterprise dabbled in a nationalised industry, if a line or service did not pay, it was simply chopped off. How bitterly today we regret the lines in the North of Scotland which were chopped off by the Beeching axe.
The withdrawal of train catering would be a sure loser. I do not see private enterprise, under any franchise, taking this on. It would mean extensive and expensive reinvestment in dining cars and in kitchens.
Many of us have for long advocated a considerable reinvestment in British Rail and will continue to do so. There is to be an investment in new rolling stock, including dining cars and kitchens. Most of the outdated vehicles should be scrapped. I hope that the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, who is present, will take note.
The staff of Travellers-Fare, who have been ridiculed, do a magnificent job on trains. They work in very cramped and difficult conditions. British Rail has speeded up its service. My journey to London used to take 10 hours. I would get on a sleeper at St. Enoch's and I could read my book for a few hours, fall asleep and wake up in London. Now I am there only a few hours. The Travellers-Fare people have to try to serve two meals in that short time. They 1388 often have to do so on trains travelling at 100 miles an hour and therefore swaying considerably.
Travellers-Fare has consistently shown a better economic return than similar organisations on the Continent and in America. The only one that makes any profit is the Swiss.
British Rail is taking steps to improve its service across the board, including its catering provision—as it always does. Reorganisation is taking place. Travellers-Fare has been incorporated into British Transport Hotels with a remit to exploit every opportunity for the successful expansion and development of the business. New services such as the Gold Star menu are proving popular and the experimental reduction of buffet prices and an improved range of food are boons to the travellers. Station buffets are being refurbished and we are told that dining cars will be refurbished. If they are out of date, they should be scrapped.
Who in private enterprise would take on rail catering? There is one claimant in the field—Sir Charles Forte, who hoisted himself into the top ten individual contributors to the Tory Party with a contribution of £25,000. He is a man who believes in profitability. Was it entirely accidental that Sir Charles Forte staked his claim on the very day on which the Egon Ronay survey produced the most damning report on motorway cafeterias run by his organisation? Or was it a desperate device to divert attention from his predicament? I think that that is what it was—and this Bill is an equally transparent manoeuvre by the supporters of the Tory Party.
With all the difficulties inherent in catering on trains, Travellers-Fare services have improved immeasurably and will continue to do so. Station buffets pay and provide a good service. As I travel from Euston to Glasgow, I should hate to go into a buffet at either end and find some of the conditions that Egon Ronay found in motorway cafes.
Let us take Newport Pagnell—[HON. MEMBERS: "No, you take it."] Egon Ronay spoke of an indefensible state of neglect, badly worn carpets, dirty seats, sluggish table clearing and a clutter of rubbish and cigarette ends. Nor would I appreciate going for a meal or a snack in the dining car if I found, as Egon Ronay did in the motorway cafeterias, 1389 that sausages were inedible, the fish was stale, the pea soup was lurid, the hamburgers were tough and there were watery carrots. And those were among the more complimentary remarks. That is what the hon. Member for Pudsey wants to introduce to British Rail.
Sir Charles Forte has a monumental task cleaning up his own organisation. Let him begin with the motorway cafes.
| Division No. 191] | AYES | [3.58 p.m. |
| Adley, Robert | Harrison, Col Sir Harwood (Eye) | Pattle, Geoffrey |
| Alison, Michael | Harvie Anderson, Rt Hon Miss | Percival, Ian |
| Arnold, Tom | Havers, Rt Hon Sir Michael | Prentice, Rt Hon Reg |
| Atkins, Rt Hon H. (Spelthorne) | Hodgson, Robin | Price, David (Eastleigh) |
| Bennett, Dr Reginald (Fareham) | Holland, Philip | Raison, Timothy |
| Berry, Hon Anthony | Hooson, Emlyn | Rathbone, Tim |
| Biggs-Davison, John | Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey | Rees-Davies, W. R. |
| Blaker, Peter | Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk) | Rhodes James, R. |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Hunt, David (Wirral) | Ridley, Hon Nicholas |
| Boyson, Dr Rhodes (Brent) | Hutchison, Michael Clark | Ridsdale, Julian |
| Brotherton, Michael | Irving, Charles (Cheltenham) | Rifkind, Malcolm |
| Buchanan-Smith, Alick | Johnson Smith, G. (E Grinstead) | Roberts, Michael (Cardiff NW) |
| Buck, Antony | Jones, Arthur (Daventry) | Roberts, Wyn (Conway) |
| Butler, Adam (Bosworth) | Kellett-Bowman, Mrs Elaine | St. John-Stevas, Norman |
| Chalker, Mrs Lynda | Knox, David | Shelton, William (Streatham) |
| Clark, William (Croydon S) | Lamont, Norman | Sims, Roger |
| Cope, John | Latham, Michael (Melton) | Sinclair, Sir George |
| Crouch, David | Le Marchant, Spencer | Skeet, T. H. H. |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James | Lester, Jim (Beeston) | Smith, Timothy John (Ashfield) |
| Drayson, Burnaby | Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) | Speed, Keith |
| Durant, Tony | Lloyd, Ian | Spence, John |
| Dykes, Hugh | Loveridge, John | Stanley, John |
| Edwards, Nicholas (Pembroke) | Luce, Richard | Steen, Anthony (Wavertree) |
| Eyre, Reginald | Macfarlane, Neil | Stewart, Ian (Hitchin) |
| Fairbairn, Nicholas | MacGregor, John | Stokes, John |
| Fairgrieve, Russell | MacKay, Andrew (Stechford) | Stradling Thomas, J. |
| Farr, John | Marten, Neil | Taylor, R. (Croydon NW) |
| Finsberg, Geoffrey | Mates, Michael | Tebbit, Norman |
| Fisher, Sir Nigel | Mather, Carol | Temple-Morris, Peter |
| Fletcher-Cooke, Charles | Mawby, Ray | Thatcher, Rt Hon Margaret |
| Fookes, Miss Janet | Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin | Townsend, Cyril D. |
| Fraser, Rt Hon H. (Stafford & St) | Mayhew, Patrick | Walder, David (Clitheroe) |
| Galbraith, Hon T. G. D. | Meyer, Sir Anthony | Walker-Smith, Rt Hon Sir Derek |
| Gardiner, George (Reigate) | Miscampbell, Norman | Wall, Patrick |
| Gilmour, Rt Hon Ian (Chesham) | Molyneaux, James | Walters, Dennis |
| Gilmour, Sir John (East Fife) | Monro, Hector | Weatherill, Bernard |
| Glyn, Dr Alan | Moore, John (Croydon C) | Whitelaw, Rt Hon William |
| Goodhart, Philip | More, Jasper (Ludlow) | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Goodhew, Victor | Morris, Michael (Northampton S) | Winterton, Nicholas |
| Goodlad, Alastair | Morrison, Charles (Devizes) | Young, Sir G. (Ealing, Acton) |
| Gower, Sir Raymond (Barry) | Morrison, Hon Peter (Chester) | Younger, Hon George |
| Gray, Hamish | Neave, Airey | |
| Grimond, Rt Hon J. | Newton, Tony | TELLERS FOR THE AYES: |
| Grist, Ian | Nott, John | Mr. Giles Shaw and |
| Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) | Oppenheim, Mrs Sally | Mr. Michael Neubert. |
| Hampson, Dr Keith | Page, Rt Hon R. Graham (Crosby) | |
| Hannam, John | Parkinson, Cecil |
| NOES | ||
| Allaun, Frank | Callaghan, Jim (Middleton & P) | Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) |
| Archer, Rt Hon Peter | Campbell, Ian | Doig, Peter |
| Armstrong, Ernest | Canavan, Dennis | Dormand, J. D. |
| Atkins, Ronald (Preston N) | Cant, R. B. | Douglas-Mann, Bruce |
| Atkinson, Norman | Carmichael, Neil | Dewar, Donald |
| Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) | Cartwright, John | Edge, Geoff |
| Bates, Alf | Castle, Rt Hon Barbara | Ellis, John (Brigg & Scun) |
| Beith, A. J. | Clemitson, Ivon | English, Michael |
| Benn, Rt Hon Anthony Wedgwood | Cocks, Rt Hon Michael (Bristol S) | Evans, Gwynfor (Carmarthen) |
| Bennett, Andrew (Stockport N) | Cohen, Stanley | Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) |
| Bishop, Rt Hon Edward | Coleman, Donald | Evans, John (Newton) |
| Blenkinsop, Arthur | Conlan, Bernard | Ewing, Harry (Stirling) |
| Bottomley, Rt Hon Arthur | Corbett, Robin | Fernyhough, Rt Hon E. |
| Boyden, James (Bish Auck) | Cowans, Harry | Flannery, Martin |
| Bradley, Tom | Crowther, Stan (Rotherham) | Fletcher, Ted (Darlington) |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Cryer, Bob | Foot, Rt Hon Michael |
| Buchan, Norman | Davies, Bryan (Enfield N) | Forrester, John |
| Buchanan, Richard | Davis, Clinton (Hackney C) | Fowler, Gerald (The Wrekin) |
| Butler, Mrs Joyce (Wood Green) | Deakins, Eric | Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald |
§ I would oppose the Bill on those grounds.
§ Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 13 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and Nominations of Select Committees at Commencement of Public Business):
§ The House divided: Ayes 135, Noes 164.
| Freud, Clement | Lyon, Alexander (York) | Sandelson, Neville |
| Garrett, John (Norwich S) | Lyons, Edward (Bradford W) | Sedgemore, Brian |
| George, Bruce | McCartney, Hugh | Sever, John |
| Golding, John | McElhone, Frank | Shaw, Arnold (Ilford South) |
| Gourlay, Harry | MacFarquhar, Roderick | Shore, Rt Hon Peter |
| Graham, Ted | MacKenzie, Rt Hon Gregor | Silverman, Julius |
| Grant, John (Islington C) | McMillan, Tom (Glasgow C) | Skinner, Dennis |
| Grocott, Bruce | Madden, Max | Smith, John (N Lanarkshire) |
| Hamilton, James (Bothwell) | Mallalieu, J. P. W. | Snape, Peter |
| Harper, Joseph | Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole) | Steel, Rt Hon David |
| Harrison, Rt Hon Walter | Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) | Stewart, Rt Hon M. (Fulham) |
| Hayman, Mrs Helene | Maynard, Miss Joan | Summerskill, Hon Dr Shirley |
| Heffer, Eric S. | Mendelson, John | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton W) |
| Hooley, Frank | Mikardo, Ian | Thomas, Mike (Newcastle E) |
| Horam, John | Miller, Dr M. S. (E Kilbride) | Thomas, Ron (Bristol NW) |
| Hoyle, Doug (Nelson) | Mitchell, Austin | Tilley, John (Lambeth, Central) |
| Huckfield, Les | Morris, Alfred (Wythenshawe) | Tuck, Raphael |
| Hughes, Rt Hon C. (Anglesey) | Morris, Rt Hon Charles R. | Wainwright, Edwin (Dearne V) |
| Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) | Murray, Rt Hon Ronald King | Wainwright, Richard (Colne V) |
| Hughes, Roy (Newport) | Newens, Stanley | Walker, Terry (Kingswood) |
| Hunter, Adam | Noble, Mike | Ward, Michael |
| Irving, Rt Hon S. (Dartford) | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley | Watkins, David |
| Janner, Greville | Palmer, Arthur | White, Frank R. (Bury) |
| Jeger, Mrs Lena | Parker, John | Whitlock, William |
| Jenkins, Hugh (Putney) | Parry, Robert | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Johnson, James (Hull West) | Penhaligon, David | Willey, Rt Hon Frederick |
| Jones, Barry (East Flint) | Perry, Ernest | Williams, Alan Lee (Hornch'ch) |
| Kelley, Richard | Price, C. (Lewisham W) | Williams, Rt Hon Shirley (Hertford) |
| Kerr, Russell | Price, William (Rugby) | Wilson, William (Coventry SE) |
| Kilroy-Silk, Robert | Radice, Giles | Woodall, Alec |
| Kinnock, Neil | Roberts, Albert (Normanton) | Woof, Robert |
| Lambie, David | Robinson, Geoffrey | Wrigglesworth, Ian |
| Lamborn, Harry | Roderick, Caerwyn | Young, David (Bolton E) |
| Lamond, James | Rodgers, George (Chorley) | |
| Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) | Rooker, J. W. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES: |
| Litterick, Tom | Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight) | Mr. Leslie Spriggs and |
| Loyden, Eddie | Rowlands, Ted | Mr. Nigel Spearing. |
§ Question accordingly negatived.