British Rail (Investment) (Hansard, 14 July 1982)

§ 10. Mr. Parry
asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss investment in the railways.

§ 11. Sir Albert Costain
asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss investment in the railways.

§ 18. Mr. Anderson
asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next proposes to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board to discuss investment levels.

§ 20. Mr. Marlow
asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss investment plans for the railways.

§ Mr. David Howell
I meet the chairman frequently to discuss various matters of mutual interest.

§ Mr. Parry
The Secretary of State will be aware of recent cuts in inter-city services. Does he accept that such cuts lead to unemployment, particularly in areas such as Liverpool? Does he agree that the Government adopt double standards on service to the general public? When there is an official strike by the rail unions the Government attack the trade unions, yet when there is industrial peace the Government support cuts in services and jobs?

§ Mr. Howell
On the railways it makes sense in management terms to adjust capacity and supply of rolling stock and services to demand. The running of many empty trains is a waste of resources that would otherwise go into modern equipment, resignalling and all the other things that we want to see on a modern railway. That is a sensible course to follow. The vast majority of railway men who want to see investment in a modern railway system and who do not want to strike are right to support good management practice.

§ Sir Albert Costain
My question could be altered by the Secretary of Slate's statement, Mr. Speaker. May I reserve my question until the statement has been made?

§ Mr. Speaker
I shall not say, but I hope that the hon. Gentleman will look in my direction.

§ Mr. Anderson
Does the Secretary of State accept that, despite current levels of investment and the increased PSO, there is a continual rundown of the railway system, which in part is the background to the current crisis? What priority do he and his Department give to the continued retention of the net work at its present level?

§ Mr. Howell
We have made it clear that we do not want substantial cuts in the network. I am sure, however, that the hon. Gentleman will recognise that the present resources of the railway system are being bled away. Even with the vastly greater social grant last year and this year than previously, even with the investment programmes, which were mentioned a few minutes ago—£1 billion since 1979 and another £1 billion spent on track renewal—and even with special parts of the current increased grant being reserved for track renewal, there is 1027 bound to be enormous pressure on all parts of the system in future. Severe difficulties will have to be faced in maintaining the railway network that we had before this hideous and disastrous strike action.

§ Mr. Beaumont-Dark
Does my right hon. Friend agree that there is a need for more investment in the railway system, but only when the railway unions accept that we no longer live in 1919? If they would bring their practices up to date, it would be worth while investing more money in the future railway system.

§ Mr. Howell
I agree.

§ Mr. Spriggs
When the Secretary of State next meets the chairman of the British Railways Board, will he encourage him not to withdraw the new flexible rosters? I come from the railways and I have examined the new rosters. They are the best working rosters that I have seen in the last 40 years.

§ Mr. Howell
The hon. Gentleman speaks from great experience and with wisdom about the railway system. He echoes the views of Sidney Weighell, who has made it clear that the flexible rosters are a social and economic benefit to his members. I only wish that other senior and responsible people in the trade unions would bring home the same message that Sidney Weighell has given, who has had experience on the footplate and on other parts of the train.