§ 35. Mrs. LaingWhat assessment he has made of the effect of the continuing public ownership of London Underground on its ability to attract adequate private capital. [19430]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonWe are urgently assessing how a public-private partnership can attract private capital for the Underground. We wish to harness private finance and skills and build on the Underground's public service record.
§ Mrs. LaingIs the Minister aware that my constituents in Epping Forest will be disappointed to hear that the Government's plans to improve the London Underground, on which my constituents depend, are again being reviewed and delayed? There was laughter from Labour Members earlier when the success of rail privatisation was mentioned, but although the Government have the power to reverse the previous Government's railway privatisation they have not done so. Does that not implicitly tell us that the Government have changed their policies and their principles in relation to the railways, as they have on many other policies and principles that they held before the general election? Given that that is true—[Interruption.] Given that that is true, why will they not give up their dogma in relation to the Underground? [HON. MEMBERS: "Give way."] Why will the Government not admit that privatisation is the only way to raise the amount of capital needed for the London Underground? Privatisation is what my constituents want.
§ Ms JacksonI can only assume that the hon. Lady's injury has caused a fever to her brain and that she is confusing the actions of the previous Administration with those of this Government. We have made it abundantly clear that we do not intend to have a wholesale privatisation of the Underground. We are dealing with surface rail as we find it, and we are committed to ensuring that the more than £2 billion of taxpayers' money that goes into our railways produces a high quality service.