British Rail (Hansard, 1 December 1986)

§ 5. Mr. Campbell-Savours
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on delays on British Rail in the past year.

Mr. Mitchell
Separate records are not kept for representations on delays. On quality of service generally, I estimate that some 400 representations have been received by my Department in the past year. That is about one complaint for every 2 million journeys.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
Is the Minister aware of the steadily escalating incidence of complaints from all parts of the United Kingdom about the inter-city service? Why does he not keep lists and refer to them? Why does he not keep lists and take them to the chairman of British Rail and present them as complaints, because everyone wants something to be done? Is it not the role of the Minister who has responsibility for those matters to ensure that the public interest is preserved? Why does he not do his job properly?

Mr. Mitchell
As I said, one complaint for every 2 million passengers does not seem to be as excessive as the hon. Gentleman tries to suggest. The operation of local services is a matter for British Rail management. The Government's job is to set the objectives. We set the objectives and have included in them particular reference to quality standards.

§ Mr. Gregory
Does my hon. Friend not deplore the comments of the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) who constantly seeks to deplore the activities of British Rail, which is most certainly on the right path? When my right hon. Friend next meets the chairman of British Rail, will he discuss the dichotomy between the operator's timetable and the published timetable, so that the gap is widened to a realistic one? Secondly, will he see whether telephones can be provided much more frequently on 125 trains and that they operate within tunnels in the unlikely event of a delay on a train?

Mr. Mitchell
My hon. Friend is correct to suggest that sometimes the rail services attempt to provide the fastest possible service. If British Rail went a little slower on the timetable it would more frequently achieve punctuality in the provision of service. I shall draw my hon. Friend's remark about telephones on trains to the attention of the chairman of British Rail.

§ Mr. Malins
Many of my constituents in Croydon are commuters to London. Apparently, they are going to put up with a small increase in prices, but the main concentration needs to be on the quality, reliability and frequency of service. Can my hon. Friend give some reassurance to south London commuters that those matters will be concentrated upon?

Mr. Mitchell
My hon. Friend can have the assurance that he seeks. I need hardly add that as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also represents a Croydon constituency, it is a matter that does not escape his gimlet eye. [Interruption.] British Rail staff on Network South East should be substantially praised for what they have achieved. Punctuality has improved from 87 per cent. within five minutes in the spring, to 91 per cent. at present. The staff should be given credit for that.

§ Mr. Snape
Does the Minister agree that fares have risen dramatically on British Rail since 1979, at a much greater rate than the rate of inflation, while punctuality standards over the seven years have fallen away equally dramatically? Is he aware that BR's response to the falling away in punctuality is to deny the available statistics to the central transport users consultative committee, supposedly on the ground that the statistics are being misused? Would it not be a good idea to have for once some action from Ministers, rather than flannel in the Chamber?

Mr. Mitchell
The average fare increase on British Rail is 4.9 per cent. That is only 1 per cent. or 1.5 per cent. above the rate of inflation. If the hon. Gentleman looks back over the past five years, he will find that the rate of fare increase has been little different from the increase in the level of inflation.