§ 7. Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet received a proposal from British Railways for the electrification of the GlasgowKilmarnock-Carlisle railway line.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo, Sir.
§ Mr. FoulkesIs the Minister aware that it is widely reported the British Rail's proposals will not include the electrification of this line? Will he draw attention to the importance of the line in providing a direct link from the south to Prestwick, an alternative to the Motherwell line and a direct service for the people of Auchinleck, Cunmock and Kilmarnock, and ask British Rail to include it in the electrification programme?
§ Mr. ClarkeI should be surprised if it were included, because it was not included in the larger option in the joint review carried out by British Rail and the Government last year. There are other lines to which I would expect British Rail to give higher priority. Some services are run by Strathclyde regional council, but even that council is giving higher priority to the line to Ayr. I admire the hon. Gentleman's enthusiasm, but I cannot hold out the hope that this line will have a high priority.
§ Sir Hector MonroWill my hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that the majority of the railway line runs through my constituency, that it is a most important link between London and Glasgow and that it also carries the boat train to Stranraer? Will he provoke British Rail into giving the line high priority and ensure that the inter-city train stops at a station in my constituency?
§ Mr. ClarkeI wish that I could say that the discovery of the constituency through which the line runs would affect the statement that I have just made, but we are waiting for British Rail's programme on electrification. The Government and the board wish to consider the future of the railways and to plan for that. We can then decide the priorities in the Strathclyde region.