British Rail

HC Deb 24 October 1983 vol 47 cc11-2

14. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what topics he discussed with the chairman of British Rail during the recess.

Mr. Ridley

I have discussed a number of railway matters with the new chairman of British Rail, including the Government's objectives for the railways, on which I shall be making a statement later today.

Mr. Fisher

Did not the Secretary of State discuss with the chairman of British Rail the one problem which, above all else, should concern them both? Is it not true that the paltry £819 million cannot possibly provide sufficient finance to improve the service to the general public?

Mr. Ridley

I have had time to meet the chairman of British Rail only once, and on that occasion he did not raise that matter with me. Therefore, I presume that he feels that he can live with that grant for the current year.

Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a decision on the London to Hastings railway line has been awaited for some months? During the recess did he take the opportunity to discuss with the chairman of British Rail the future electrification of that important railway link between London and the south coast? If not, will he undertake to do so without delay?

Mr. Ridley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the opportunity to state that there is no question of that line being discontinued, as was suggested in a recent newspaper article. I ask him to give me a little time to study the problem. I have been in office for only one week. I promise him that I shall try to make a decision as soon as possible, because I realise the urgency.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Will the Secretary of State confirm that the figure of £819 million that he announced this afternoon is £40 million less than that which the British Rail corporate plan suggested would be the minimum necessary to survive the next 12 months? How does he square that?

Mr. Ridley

I thought that the hon. Gentleman had realised the good news in those figures. In accordance with the remarks of the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross), British Rail has made improvements in its cost and productivity, which is reflected in the PSO grant. I am sure that is something that the whole House will welcome.