§ 5. Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of British Rail, he will raise the provision of fast non-stop services between the cities of Great Britain.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe pattern of services on the inter-city rail network is a matter for the British Railways Board.
§ Dr. MarekDoes the Minister agree that the level of services on Inter-city provided by British Rail is appallingly low? On the west coast main line, on which I have been travelling for the whole of the year, I cannot remember one occasion when everything was right; for example, the train was late, the engine failed, the train was overcrowded so that there was standing room only, or there was no restaurant service. Does the Minister accept that that is a matter which goes beyond the day-to-day control of normal Inter-city services provided by the management? What will the Minister do about it?
§ Mr. MitchellI am sorry that the hon. Gentleman's experiences have been much less satisfactory than my own. The matters that he raises are for the chairman of British Rail, to whom we have given objectives to provide an efficient railway service that is reliable, attractive and punctual.
§ Mr. CashDoes my hon. Friend accept that the British public are increasingly fed up with the exceedingly nasty apple pies served on these trains? Will he do what he can to privatise the services and get rid of the current monopoly?
§ Mr. MitchellI have said already that we are inviting British Rail to obtain more of its services from the private sector. Twice in the past week when I have travelled by British Rail the buffet car has closed one hour before arrival at our destination, so I share the hon. Gentleman's sense of unease and am aware of the advantages to be obtained from private sector operations.
§ Mr. FlanneryI should like to reiterate the complaints made by my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) about the St. Pancras line. I am often asked by the Minster why I continually complain. It is because he does nothing about it. The reality is that although the individual train is faster, there are fewer of them, fewer carriages, they are regularly overcrowded, and from Sheffield the train often stops at Chesterfield, Alfreton, Nottingham, Leicester, Kettering, Luton and then London. That adds half an hour to the journey, which is added throughout the day. The trains are slower than they used to be when they ran hourly.
§ Mr. MitchellThose are entirely matters for the management of British Rail. It is the job of Ministers to set objectives for the board. It is for the board to carry them out. If the hon. Gentleman has complaints about the way in which the board is carrying them out, he should address them to the chairman.