HC Deb 10 December 1980 vol 995 cc917-8
9. Mr. Richard Shepherd

asked the Minister of Transport what have been the receipts to date from the sale of motorway service areas.

Mr. Fowler

I have agreed terms with the Rank Organisation, Granada, Trusthouse Forte and Imperial Foods for them to purchase new 50-year leases of the motorway service areas that they currently operate. This accounts for three-quarters of the English MSAs. I have received offers for several of the others and am expecting offers for the remainder. Overall, the proceeds of the sale should amount to around £50 million, with the Exchequer benefiting by well over £40 million in the current financial year.

Mr. Shepherd

I am grateful for that answer. Is my right hon. Friend aware of the anxiety about the provision of a 24-hour service? Will he confirm that the 24-hour service will continue?

Mr. Fowler

Yes, I can confirm that the 24-hour fuel and refreshment service will continue. We have made that a condition.

Mr. Weetch

Is the Minister aware that over the years consumers have been ripped off in these service areas at one time or another? What will he do to ensure competition in these areas? What will he do to ensure that high prices will not be brought about purely as a result of monopoly leasing?

Mr. Fowler

One of the aims is to ensure that there is competition between the motorway service areas. We are seeking to reform the position described by the hon. Gentleman. We shall enable the motorway service areas, for the first time, to advertise their names on the motorways. In various other ways competition will be brought into play. If the hon. Gentleman cares to go up the M[...], for example, he will see that petrol prices have come down to a level that is closer to that which applies off the motorway.

Mr. Hill

I am sure that my right hon. Friend does not wish to mislead the House. On the M3 and M27, petrol prices for the unfortunate motorist who happens to run out of petrol are about 20p per gallon more than anywhere else. How will my right hon. Friend safeguard the motorist against being milked?

Mr. Fowler

That position was made possible under the old system of rentals charged to the motorway service areas. I do not know the position on the M3, but I know what happens on the M1, where petrol prices have come down to a level that is much nearer to that which applies in garages off the motorway.

Mr. Cryer

Without some form of inspection of the new leased areas, how will the Minister ensure that reasonable conditions for the motorist prevail? Will he assure the House that there will be no reduction of facilities and that alcoholic drinks will not be available to bring about death and danger? What does he intend to do about the Blennerhassett report?

Mr. Fowler

About five questions were wrapped up in that one. I give an assurance that there is no question of alcohol being served at the motorway service areas. The conditions are laid out in the leases. It is better for the consumer to have more competition between the motorway service areas than to have a system of Government inspection as proposed by the Prior report.