HC Deb 20 April 1983 vol 41 cc274-6
7. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has had discussions with the chairman of the British Railways Board on the electrification of the line between Bedford and Sheffield.

Mr. David Howell

I meet the British Rail chairman regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest, including proposals for main line electrification.

Mr. Flannery

Is this not a matter of mutual interest to the Minster? If he replied in the affirmative about this route, that would alleviate some of the wilder excesses of the Serpell report, because many of us are wondering whether that report will get rid of British Rail altogether. If we found that there were electrification plans for the Bedford to Sheffield route, that would allay many fears about what will happen to that route and many other routes that may be affected by the Serpell report.

Mr. Howell

The hon. Gentleman's worries are without foundation, so he can drop them straight away. The midlands main line route is not one for which British Rail has made proposals for electrification. British Rail determines the lines that have priority for electrification. However, as the hon. Gentleman knows, high speed train services have been introduced on the midlands main line in the past year or two years.

Mr. Flannery

There are fewer trains.

Mr. Howell

I am told that as a result the services have been improved, although the hon. Gentleman may have different views.

Mr. Madel

Does my right hon. Friend agree that before pushing electrification north of Bedford, which would be expensive, although welcome, people want to be sure that the Bedford — St. Pancras line is working properly, that a proper service is being provided for Bedfordshire commuters and that agreements between management and unions are adhered to?

Mr. Howell

My hon. Friend has drawn attention to an important consideration. He knows that agreement has been reached on the practices and procedures for running the Bedford—St. Pancras electrified line. I understand that partial experiments and developments in running the line have begun and that a full service is likely to be in operation in the autumn. My hon. Friend is right in saying that we should see how that development goes and make sure that the line is working properly.

Mr. Cowans

Is the Secretary of State aware that hon. Members on both sides of the House are deeply concerned at the lack of decision, not only on the Bedford —Sheffield line, but on electrification as a whole? Is he further aware that this is a glorious opportunity for him to take action, in view of the Prime Minister's concern for unemployment, and at a stroke help to solve the problem of unemployment? The right hon. Gentleman could help manufacturing industry to galvanise itself on the electrification programme and thus start to make up for the fact that the Government are virtually destroying manufacturing industry.

Mr. Howell

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing my attention to glorious opportunities. The most effective way to create employment is through worthwhile investment which produces a proper return, secure jobs and benefits for the future that the country needs. That has always been the criterion upon which the Government have sought information on electrification from British Rail. The Government had accepted in principle the 10-year electrification programme, but I have told the House that I would need to see a satisfactory plan for the future of the inter-city business as a whole before reaching a decision on east coast main line electrification. I have now received the board's prospectus for up to 1988 and I am considering it. The board tells me that it is working on longer-term proposals, which will be ready in a few months.

Mr. Adley

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the fact that the management and unions of British Rail have managed to reach agreement on the Bedford — St. Pancras part of the midlands line is welcome? Will that significantly alter his attitude and encourage British Rail to believe that funds will be forthcoming for further electrification sooner rather than later?

Mr. Howell

I agree with my hon. Friend that it is good news that a major investment project, such as the Bedford-St. Pancras line, now looks set to be used effectively. I emphasise to my hon. Friend that it is not a question of alteration of views. In 1981 the Government set out sensible business conditions upon which investment in electrification of the main line system should be developed. Those conditions remain the same today. I repeat that I am now considering the prospectus that the board has put to me for the inter-city business up to 1988. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the decisions on new electric power units to replace diesel units depends very much on the overall prospects for the inter-city business system. The timing of those decisions also depends on the length of time that the new diesel units now being used on the east coast main line will be in use. It would be pointless to take them away and replace them before they earned their worth.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope that we shall have shorter questions and answers.

Mr. Ron. Lewis

Will the Secretary of State publish in the Official Report the electrification proposals that he has received from British Rail?

Mr. Howell

No, Sir.