HC Deb 03 February 1986 vol 91 cc1-3
1. Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to seek to improve the wellbeing and safety of women travelling on public transport.

The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Nicholas Ridley)

I have recently announced a new study of crime on the London Underground. I expect to receive the report and recommendations by the end of July. This study will cover the safety of women.

Ms. Richardson

The Secretary of State has taken a long time to instigate that survey. Does he realise that women are the major users of public transport? The GLC has carried out the only survey of women by women to identify the difficulties which they experience on buses, underground trains and so on, and in badly lit streets. Over three quarters of them said that they felt unsafe at night. Will the right hon. Gentleman examine the findings of the GLC and proposals from other metropolitan authorities, and improve the safety of women, by recruiting more conductors and other staff, rather than relying on machines, which cannot respond to cries for help?

Mr. Ridley

The hon. Lady is a little over-critical. We have set up a study into the problems on the Underground. The problems of bus staff are being examined, as is violence to road passenger transport staff, by another of my Department's working groups, which will report shortly. A great deal is being done to investigate what can be done, and a lot is being done. If the hon. Lady would like to go to the Bank station, she will see the plans for modernising it, making it better lit and better laid out. Those are the sorts of ways in which to prevent crime, and the hon. Lady will find that the Government are doing a lot in that direction.

Mr. McCrindle

If, as it is reported, London Regional Transport is anxious to appoint additional members of the British Transport police, will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that he will turn a sympathetic ear to any appeal for additional funds which may be required as a result?

Mr. Ridley

The British Transport police have been increased substantially as a result of the perceived problem to which my hon. Friend refers. In the first instance such matters are for London Regional Transport or the bus operator, whoever he may be, but we are doing all that we can to assist them.

Mr. Stephen Ross

Will the Secretary of State accept that one of the things that he can do to help is the early phasing out from, Charing Cross on southern region of outdated stock with individual compartment carriages, because their use late at night worries women.

Mr. Ridley

It is for British Rail to propose replacing old stock of that sort, and if it makes an application to us for investment approval we shall consider it quickly and sympathetically.

Mr. Squire

I thank my right hon. Friend for his announcement today, which I am sure will be given a greater welcome by women in general than it was by the Opposition Front Bench. May I underline that a number of men and women are deterred from travelling on the underground and that, in a sense, the amount of deterrence is greater than the number of attacks that take place?

Mr. Ridley

I think that that is true, but I am sure that the ways that are being examined by London Regional Transport to improve the situation will all help. For some time efforts have been made to improve lighting and the safety of ticket and other staff, and to increase the presence of the British Transport police and inspectors in order to improve the situation.

Mr. Tony Banks

Has the Secretary of State read the GLC women's committee's pamphlet "Women on the Move" which, to make the point in another way from my hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson), makes it clear that only 17 per cent. of women feel safe travelling on public transport at night. In order to try to increase the number of women who want to travel on the tube and buses, and feel safe doing so, will he ask London Regional Transport to drop its proposals for further one-person operated buses and the reduction of guards on tubes, both of which add to the feeling of insecurity among women travelling on London transport?

Mr. Ridley

The hon. Gentleman must understand that it is taking a little time to get the London Underground more efficient, safe, and attractive to passengers. We took the system away from the GLC only 18 months ago and we have had remarkable progress in rectifying the GLC's errors.

Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

I appreciate the efforts that my right hon. Friend has been making for the safety of women. However, the question also refers to "the wellbeing" of women. Would it not be for the wellbeing and convenience of women if there were female attendants looking after female toilets?

Mr. Ridley

I shall pass that important point on to the authorities.