§ 8. Mr. KhabraTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will conduct an environmental assessment of Railtrack's recent decision to require staff to use cars rather than trains when travelling to certain business appointments; and if he will make a statement. [24723]
§ Mr. KhabraRailtrack's senior management are considering forcing their staff to switch from the railways to the roads, which will cause more pollution and more congestion on the roads. That is a savage indictment of the operation of Britain's railway system, which talks money while we choke. Britain's roads will become more congested and more polluted. How can Minister—or the Secretary of State, with his well-known commitment to the environment—justify that when rail privatisation is directly causing more pollution and will lead to an increase in traffic on the roads, which will be disastrous?
§ Mr. WattsThe hon. Gentleman should not believe his party's propaganda. There is no change in policy. Just as 11 with British Rail, Railtrack's predecessor, there are no specific instructions regarding any mode of travel in preference to another. Railtrack does not require travel by car, but, like any other sensible and well-managed business, it requires its staff to consider cost-effective methods of travel.