HC Deb 02 December 1991 vol 200 cc11-2
9. Sir Anthony Meyer

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail the improvement of co-ordination with bus services in Wales.

Mr. David Hunt

I understand that British Rail is discussing with county councils better ways of coordinating bus services.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Is my right hon. Friend aware that because of a dispute between British Rail and the Crosville bus company, for months there has been no shelter from the weather for bus passengers waiting at Rhyl station? Does he agree that this long-running and silly dispute reflects extremely badly on the Crosville bus company, which seems to think that it has no responsibility whatever for the well-being of its passengers, but, above all, reflects badly on Sir Bob Reid, who, as chairman of a great nationalised corporation, seems quite content to sit back, let matters take their course and let passengers go to hell?

Mr. Hunt

Thanks to my hon. Friend, I am aware of the position at Rhyl and am very concerned about it. I shall certainly bring what he has said directly to the attention of Sir Robert Reid.

Mr. Anderson

Is the Secretary of State worried about the number of mergers and amalgamations affecting bus services in Wales and about the reduction in service in the evenings and on Sundays? Now that we have had sufficient experience of the workings of deregulation, is not it time for the Government to have an inquiry into how some claims are not being met?

Mr. Hunt

The statistics show that the whole privatisation move has been a remarkable success. Between 1985–86 and 1990–91, local bus mileage rose by 29 per cent. in Wales, compared with the Great Britain average increase of 18 per cent. We have done remarkably well.