HC Deb 22 February 2000 vol 344 cc1358-60
4. Mr. Malcolm Savidge (Aberdeen, North)

What assistance he has given in establishing the Strategic Rail Authority; and what its impact will be in Scotland. [109610]

The Minister of State, Scotland Office (Mr. Brian Wilson)

The establishment of the Strategic Rail Authority is an important step forward in ensuring a co-ordinated oversight of railway services across the United Kingdom. In Scotland, the Strategic Rail Authority will administer all passenger rail franchises, including the making of franchise payments to the relevant train operating companies.

Mr. Savidge

Will my hon. Friend seek to ensure that new rail franchises stipulate the maintenance and improvement of direct through train links between Aberdeen and London, and particularly the progressive upgrading of passenger and freight services on the neglected stretch between Aberdeen and Edinburgh?

Mr. Wilson

I congratulate my hon. Friend and his Labour colleagues in the north-east on their pursuit of that issue. I well remember, during opposition to privatisation, going to Aberdeen to make it clear that if privatisation and fragmentation proceeded, there would not be the same commercial incentive for the upgrading of the link between Edinburgh and Aberdeen. We shall have a Strategic Rail Authority that is able to intervene in those circumstances.

Moreover, the Scottish Executive will be able to make directions to Railtrack. If Railtrack resists, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Department of Transport will be able to adjudicate. We now have a structure within which it will be possible to pursue those objectives. We have also had to overturn the damage of rail fragmentation that was caused by the previous Government and that endangered the type of upgrading that my hon. Friend and I both want.

Mr. Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale)

Does the Minister agree that one of the important functions of the Strategic Rail Authority will be to promote and re-introduce rail services through rural parts of Scotland? Does he welcome with me last week's report highlighting the fact that there is the possibility of a viable railway through the borders, connecting Edinburgh with England and the west coast main line? Will he work with me and my hon. Friend the Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) in promoting that railway and in working with the SRA to ensure that that railway is one of its top priorities?

Mr. Wilson

As the hon. Gentleman knows from my visits to the borders, I am very interested in, and attracted to, the proposition of restoring that link. He will also know that the Scottish Executive have been examining the matter and have expressed positive interest in the proposals. It is a very important project for the borders.

Again, it would be for the Scottish Executive to make proposals to Railtrack. It would then be for Railtrack to respond, in consultation with the train operating companies. Ultimately, it would be for the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to adjudicate on the matter, if that were necessary. The structure is in place, making it possible for us to go forward on those projects. The Tories sought to make doing that impossible by their fragmentation of the railways and by leaving it all to the free market.

Mr. Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun)

My hon. Friend will be aware that, despite recent improvements in the infrastructure, the rolling stock and the timetabling of rail services in Scotland, it is still not possible to travel from Ayr on the west coast to Edinburgh on the east coast in any time that rivals a direct road journey. In his discussions with the Scottish Executive, the strategic rail authority and Railtrack, will he stress the importance to the economy of the areas west and south of Glasgow of better east-west links and better access to the national rail network?

Mr. Wilson

The Under-Secretary of State for International Development, my hon. Friend the Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) is cheering with particular enthusiasm as he wants a direct link between Ayr and Tynecastle. The point that my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr. Browne) makes is exactly right. It is important that once again we are getting back to the concept of a united national rail network and a strategic framework for the development of the railways. The Scottish Executive has an important role in promoting rail services and working with the strategic rail authority to make exactly the improvements that we would like. My hon. Friend mentioned Ayr, so we should remember the important role of the Strathclyde passenger transport executive, working hand in hand with other authorities to achieve what Labour wants—an integrated public transport system.