HC Deb 13 February 1989 vol 147 cc12-3
9. Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Settle-Carlisle line.

Mr. Portillo

Not yet. We are still considering British Rail's closure proposal and related matters.

Mr. Taylor

Is the Minister aware that those who are involved in the holiday business in the area, as well as those who use the line daily, are having a blight cast upon their work because of continuing uncertainty? Tour operators have lost bookings because they cannot guarantee that the line will be open from May to October. The continuing uncertainty is not helped by press speculation that the Minister has found a solution about which he will not tell the House. Will the Minister reveal whether the speculation is sourced from his Department and when an announcement will be made?

Mr. Portillo

I am not responsible for the speculation which has appeared in the newspapers. I am sorry to hear about blight. The hon. Gentleman will know that I had to give the most serious undertakings that I would consider all the evidence that is put before me, and there is voluminous evidence. It would be wrong for me to reach a decision until I have gone through the evidence carefully.

Mr. Waller

Although it seems unlikely now that a single operator could take over the Settle-Carlisle line and run it, will my hon. Friend have close discussions with bodies such as the passenger transport authorities, the county councils and the tourist boards to ascertain whether they can come together, with the support of the Government, to find a way of saving what is, by any standards, an important part of the British heritage?

Mr. Portillo

Yes. The first thing that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has to do is to reach a decision on the application that has been made by British Rail to suspend its services. A number of people have been in touch with us, including the West Yorkshire PTA.

Mr. Dalyell

In the voluminous evidence, what is the notional figure for the annual maintenance of the Ribblehead viaduct?

Mr. Portillo

I am not prepared to reveal one part of the evidence in isolation from the rest. British Rail's closure proposal has been published. If the hon. Gentleman cares to read that, he will find some of the figures for which he may be looking.