§ 10. Mr. David Heath (Somerton and Frome)What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on rail services to Wales and the west country. [529]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Don Touhig)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly attends meetings with ministerial colleagues, including my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, where they discuss a wide range of issues, including rail services in Wales.
§ Mr. HeathGiven that Railtrack's forward plans have now been comprehensively demolished by the rail regulator, Mr. Winsor, will the Minister tell the House when we can expect to have a safe and efficient railway service to Wales and the west country, which our constituents deserve and passengers need to do their daily business?
§ Mr. TouhigThe hon. Gentleman is right. I support him in the points that he makes, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did on 15 November last year, when he asked the same question. Obviously, the Government's first concern is to maintain the safety of the rail network, and we are doing so in discussions and by providing funding to support Railtrack. That is most urgent. We must also ensure that Railtrack carries out the work that is necessary to overcome the backlog of repairs, so that we make the railway system safe. As a regular user of the rail service, travelling between London and south Wales, I certainly want that to happen, and I shall do everything that I possibly can, together with my right hon. Friend, to ensure an improvement in the rail network, which this country certainly deserves.