HC Deb 28 March 1979 vol 965 c456
27. Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on electrification proposals for the Leeds-Bradford area railway network.

Mr. Horam

I do not know of any proposals for the electrification of railway lines in the Leeds and Bradford area.

Mr. Cryer

My hon. Friend need have no worries about that. I am willing to make proposals. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made an important announcement today about electrification. Does my hon. Friend accept that in the longer term it would help regional policy in intermediate areas if, for example, the Leeds-Bradford and Leeds-Keighley railway lines were to be considered for electrification as part of a long-term programme to retain the expert team assembled by British Rail, which has been electrifying the suburban lines running into St. Pancras and King's Cross, and to use it in areas in the regions to replace the declining diesel motor units now in service?

Mr. Horam

There is much in what my hon. Friend says. West Yorkshire county council has powers to provide finance for local electrification if it wishes. I shall be happy to receive proposals from my hon. Friend to submit to the Government. In addition, he may care to make some proposals to the Tory-controlled local authority.