§ 14. Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the refreshment facilities provided at motorway service stations. [30614]
§ Mrs. ClwydWill the Minister accept that deregulation has meant that more motorway service stations have been given the go-ahead to rip people off, that most food is overpriced and disgusting and that a price of £1 for a cup of tea is scandalous? What will he do to ensure good value for money?
§ Mr. WattsThe effects of deregulation and the promotion of new motorway service areas by the private sector mean that more are being provided. Three have been provided since deregulation and 11 planning permissions are outstanding. That will mean more competition and, therefore, more choice for motorists. Because motorway service area operators are required to provide free access to toilets, rest areas, picnic areas and parking for members of the public, those who choose to take food and drink with them can make use of the areas without paying the prices that the hon. Lady finds unacceptable.
§ Mr. AshbyWhen will my hon. Friend introduce rest areas on motorways, as they have on the continent, where drivers who are a little tired can stop for a few moments? Those areas are a great safety feature on the continent and they are not expensive to provide. Why do we not have them?
§ Mr. WattsAs I have just explained in reply to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd), motorway service operators are required to provide such facilities for all motorists free of charge. It is better for supervised areas to be provided on the trunk road and motorway network than to make unsupervised provision which, in view of experience elsewhere, might suffer vandalism and other such problems.