HC Deb 25 February 1985 vol 74 c7
6. Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the contribution of local rail services to the effectiveness of the transport system in the metropolitan county areas of England.

Mr. David Mitchell

Such assessments are the responsibility of the passenger transport executive of each metropolitan county.

Mr. Wareing

I do not think that anyone will be satisfied with that answer. Will the Minister now explain what guarantees he can give to rail commuters in metropolitan areas that their services will continue after 1986? Is he prepared to give such guarantees in amendments to the Transport Bill, which is now under consideration?

Mr. Mitchell

As for guarantees to rail commuters, the decision about the priorities of locally elected people for services in their local areas is for them to take and not for the Government to dictate.

Mr. Meadowcroft

Is the Minister aware that in many metropolitan counties, including my own county of West Yorkshire, considerable progress has been made towards the integration of bus and rail services? How on earth can that integration survive once deregulation takes place, as it will undermine the whole principle?

Mr. Mitchell

If the integrated services are along corridors on which people want to travel, they will be able to compete successfully against other forms of transport. On the other hand, if people are being made to fit a planner's blueprint, there will be trouble for them.

Mr. Adley

How will the Transport Bill affect the Tyne and Wear metro service?

Mr. Mitchell

The Tyne and Wear metro service will be able to retain not only its existing service but the feeder services to it. I judge that with that arrangement it will be able to compete very successfully.

Mr. Snape

Now that the hon. Gentleman has replied to the question from his hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr. Adley) about the Tyne and Wear metro, will he tell the House the difference between the feeder service to that metro and feeder services to other PTE operated railway services around our major conurbations? Will he further tell us what is the similarity between those conurbations and their transport problems and the cities of Hereford and Guildford?

Mr. Mitchell

Feeder services—whether they are in PTE areas or anywhere else—will depend for their success on the number of people who want to use them. That is the criterion against which any business success should be judged.