HC Deb 28 January 1981 vol 997 cc911-2
4. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report of the joint working party on main line electrification.

9. Mr. Bagier

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report of the joint working party on main line electrification.

Mr. Fowler

I expect the report to be published very shortly.

Mr. Spriggs

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the vast industrial benefits which will accrue from British Rail's proposals for the electrification of the main line? Is he aware also of the benefits to industry, especially to the cable manufacturers which produce the cables for railway electrification contracts, since several hundred redundancies have been notified recently within the boundaries of my neighbour's constituency, affecting many of my constituents? Will the Minister take action to do something about bringing forward electrification contracts on the railways?

Mr. Fowler

As I said, the report itself is due to be published. I hope that it will be published literally in the next few days. The Government will then want to consider it. I endorse entirely what the hon. Gentleman said. In that consideration, we shall want to take account of the effect of electrification not only on the railway system but on the railway manufacturing industry in general. I think that the hon. Gentleman made a very fair and a very good point.

Mr. Bagier

Is the Secretary of State aware of the great importance that BRB and the three railway trade unions attach to this matter? He will no doubt hear that at first hand when he meets them tomorrow. Does he not accept that in view of the clapped-out 25-year-old diesel multiple units, a quick statement of intention to go ahead with electrification would be useful for the railway system? Will he give an undertaking that he will use all his endeavours to convince the Cabinet of the desirability of spending that money?

Mr. Fowler

I shall certainly try to give the House a decision as soon as I can. I understand that it is important for the future of the whole railway industry, and it will be considered by the Government in that light.

Mr. Adley

Does not my right hon. Friend accept that some of us feel that electrification of British Rail is a far greater national priority than that for which twice the sum of money is being poured into BL? Is he aware that the loss of Sir Michael Edwardes would be less hard to bear than the loss of Sir Peter Parker? Does he not recognise that improvement of the nations's infrastructure should be a vital criterion to be taken into account when assessing where public investment is to be made?

Mr. Fowler

I do not wish to enter into the first part of my hon. Friend's question, except to say that I have the greatest confidence in Sir Peter Parker. I also have the greatest admiration for Sir Michael Edwardes. With regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's question, we shall bear in mind what he says.

Mr. Cowans

Will the Minister bear in mind that it is no good having electrification if at the same time we do not have the railway track? Is he aware that British Rail has already announced the first 20 miles of line to be closed because of lack of funds for track repairs? Is he further aware that at present an additional 3,000 miles of track fall into that category? Is the Minister prepared to do anything about that, because if he does not, he may find that he is in favour of electrification but has no track?

Mr. Fowler

The first part of the hon. Gentleman's question is unanswerable, and for once I agree with him. The issue of electrification and renewal is one of the issues about which I shall talk with the Rail Council tomorrow. I welcome the opportunity of talking, not only with the chairman of the board but with the three rail unions on the future of the rail system.