HC Deb 23 December 1981 vol 15 cc976-7
6. Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board to discuss investment.

Mr. David Howell

I meet the chairman frequently to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Mr. Cryer

When the Minister next meets the chairman of the BRB, will he congratulate him and British Rail workers on the service that they have provided during the terrible weather that we have been experiencing? Does not that fact reflect the great importance of the British Rail network in managing to keep services going? Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that British Rail is approaching crisis point because of the lack of investment? Will he assure the House that if British Rail expresses a need for money to maintain its ageing permanent way structures, such as the Ribblehead viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle line, he will treat each case sympathetically? British Rail appears to be moving towards the closure of this 86-mile major route network, which would be completely against the Minister's policy of no major closures. Will the right hon. Gentleman reinforce that now?

Mr. Howell

I have, I can and I will express my feelings, which are similar to those of the hon. Gentleman, to the chairman of British Rail and those involved about the work that they do in maintaining services in immmensely difficult conditions. We all recognise that. However, I counsel the hon. Gentlemdn against talking of crisis and using overdramatised language. In many areas the British Rail system operates to a very high level of performance. It does British Rail no service to be depicted constantly by those who claim to be its enthusiastic supporters as being on the verge of collapse and crisis. It has some highly efficient and effective systems, which are world beaters. If we heard more of that and less talk of crisis it would help the morale of British Rail.

Mr. Ward

When my right hon. Friend next meets the chairman of British Rail, will he tell him that there is widespread support from the taxpayers for my right hon. Friend's policy of insisting that British Rail demonstrates a fair return to the taxpayer before money is invested in it? Will he suggest to the chairman that one way in which British Rail could help itself would be to lease to private enterprise its catering facilities, which it seems quite incapable of maintaining?

Mr. Howell

The organisation of the catering side is a matter for the British Rail management. As for the general understanding of the importance of the good use of taxpayers' money by the commercial railways and the management of the system, the British Railways Board is the first to be apprised of that and to understand fully the realities of it.

Mr. Whitehead

When the Secretary of State discusses rail investment with the chairman of British Rail, will he consider the parlous state of many of British Rail's engineering workshops in Derby and elsewhere? Given the shrinkage of the wagon fleet and the fact that we have a successful record in exporting what is essentially an old technology, if the right hon. Gentleman is concerned to sing the praises of British Rail ought we not to be investing in new technology for our exporting industries?

Mr. Howell

Certainly we want to develop new technology, and British Rail and our coach and equipment builders are the first to recognise the need for it.