HC Deb 28 November 1988 vol 142 c426
14. Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial objectives he has given to London Regional Transport since 20 July 1984.

Mr. Channon

Targets for external finance have been set annually in the public expenditure surveys. I hope to agree new objectives with the chairman of LRT shortly.

Mr. Spearing

Does the Secretary of State recall that his Department's standing instructions, issued by a former Secretary of State, are to cut support by £95 million a year and to keep fares level? Is he aware that the withdrawal of buses from West Ham garage last week was the result of new schedules which require drivers to work longer hours and cover more miles, putting their health and the safety of passengers at risk? Is not a change of the instructions overdue? How is it that, although the instructions say that fares in London should remain more or less stable, we now have increased fares—increased ahead of the cost of living—and reduced safety standards? Will the right hon. Gentleman change the instructions very soon?

Mr. Channon

I am about, I hope in the not-too-distant future, to publish new objectives for London Regional Transport. The hon. Gentleman's description of the 1984 objectives was a little colourful. The objectives refer to LRT's statutory duties, which include safety, and make it clear that they supplement the board's statutory duties. The board could not override those statutory duties. I shall see that LRT considers the hon. Gentleman's detailed point carefully.

Mr. Squire

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that it remains an objective of the Government to maximise the use of public transport in London and that, since 1984, there has been a welcome increase in the use of London transport and in the provision of services, particularly on the Underground?

Mr. Channon

My hon. Friend is right on both counts. The increase has been matched by an enormous increase in investment in London Underground, which will increase still further.