HC Deb 19 March 1984 vol 56 c690
4. Mr. Yeo

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask British Rail to offer to private commercial contractors franchises for British Rail catering operations either individually or collectively.

Mr. David Mitchell

In his letter of 24 October last year my right hon. Friend asked the chairman to obtain more support services from the private sector, including train and station catering.

Mr. Yeo

I cannot believe that there is one hon. Member who has not at some stage travelled on a train or waited on a platform in the company of a large number of frustrated British Rail passengers trying to obtain refreshments. Will my hon. Friend undertake to see what progress is being made in this regard? Does he agree that there is an overwhelming case for offering franchises particularly to small local private concerns?

Mr. Mitchell

The private sector has not come forward with proposals acceptable to BR for on-train catering services on major routes. Experiments involving the private sector in on-train services on minor routes are about to commence. There are 70 private sector station catering arrangements and more are planned. I am, as my hon. Friend is asking, pressing British Rail to make further progress.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

As there will be no competition between caterers on trains, does not the Minister's reply suggest that a new private monopoly will be created on trains? How can that help to achieve competitive prices? Surely the hon. Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) is seeking a reduction in prices.

Mr. Mitchell

My hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) asked about service and availability, not about prices. British Rail is to introduce private sector catering on minor train services in the first instance, principally where there are no such services now.

Mr. Beaumont-Dark

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the problems is to find any catering on British Rail services and that the problems do not stem from monopolies or private catering? Yesterday I travelled on a train which was bound for Glasgow—I got off at Birmingham, as they say. There was no catering on that train. The sooner there is competition so that some of us can enjoy food or refreshment, the better.

Mr. Mitchell

I shall convey to British Rail the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Beaumont-Dark).

Mr. Prescott

Is the Minister aware of the decision of British Rail's management, because of the extraordinary demand from business men travelling on business accounts, to ban second-class passengers from sitting down to breakfast? Will he make it clear that the public subsidy is for the benefit of all passengers and that it should not be used solely to finance business men? Will he prevent the development of this "Upstairs, downstairs" service on British Rail?

Mr. Mitchell

These are entirely matters for British Rail's commercial judgment. If it judges that its present policy is the most effective way in which to increase customer satisfaction, it should proceed.