§ 7. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Con)What discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on providing for the projected increase in rail passenger numbers. [145870]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr. Kim Howells)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular meetings with the chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority and discusses a range of subjects related to the work of that body, including issues arising from a projected increase in passenger numbers.
§ Bob SpinkIs it not typical that the Government have a target to increase passenger numbers, at the same time as having a policy to restrict passenger numbers by increasing ticket costs? The cost of a monthly season ticket from London to Southend increased just this week by £17. Is it not time that the Government got together with the SRA and planned to increase capacity on the line—for instance, by considering a new station for Canvey Island?
§ Dr. HowellsThat is a nice populist line, but the money to run the railways can come from only two 149 places. Either it comes from the taxpayer via subsidies, which are enormous—about £3 billion this year—or it must come from the fare box. If the hon. Gentleman wants to talk to whoever speaks these days for the Conservative party on issues relating to the Exchequer, I am sure he can come to an agreement about putting up taxes yet again to increase the subsidy to the railways, but we cannot do that because we are being very careful about how we spend taxpayers' money.
§ Mr. Barry Gardiner (Brent, North) (Lab)I was grateful that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met me before Christmas to discuss increasing the passenger numbers coming through Wembley Stadium station by resolving the issues between the SRA and Network Rail. Will my hon. Friend report on how the negotiations between the two bodies have advanced since then, and how close we are to resolving the issue of the bridges there?
§ Dr. HowellsWe are due to meet the Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail shortly to discuss that very subject.
§ John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)When the Minister next meets the Strategic Rail Authority, will he ask it why it has been necessary to increase the number of staff employed in regulating the rail industry almost fourfold since privatisation? Will he also ask the SRA why it was necessary in nine months last year to spend £20 million on 26 outside contractors when it has so much in-house resource? Does that not show that the SRA has proved a costly and bureaucratic failure, and that we no longer need it as part of the rail regulatory industry?
§ Dr. HowellsI certainly agree that any increase in the number of personnel involved in regulation needs to be questioned. The figures have risen dramatically, and we have certainly asked for answers to our questions about that point, and especially to those about the increase in the number of consultants who are being used, which seems extraordinarily high.
§ Dr. Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes, South-West) (Lab)The housing growth planned in the Milton Keynes area needs to be underpinned by improved transport infrastructure. Will the Minister ensure that, in considering the current bid to reopen the Bletchley to Bicester section of the east-west rail route, the SRA takes into account the extra housing growth in the area and the need to provide for that additional potential passenger growth?
§ Dr. HowellsYes, indeed. I would expect the SRA to look very carefully at projected growth in housing numbers, as well as economic growth, in those areas. There will certainly be an increase and we must have close regard to that issue in the way in which we serve the area with transport infrastructure.
§ Mr. John Horam (Orpington) (Con)Is the Minister aware that, in relation to numbers, one of the biggest problems in the country is on the London commuter lines, where severe overcrowding is practically a daily occurrence? Indeed, the Select Committee on Transport 150 pointed out that such conditions lead to stress and ill health. One possible answer is a modest programme to lengthen platforms so that train operators can run 12-coach trains rather than trains with a maximum of eight, six or four coaches, as they often do now. What prospect is there that the Strategic Rail Authority will introduce such a programme in the near future?
§ Dr. HowellsThis is a very important question. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will know that we have just seen the largest ever orders placed for new rolling stock in the history of the railways in this country. We have also seen the difficulties of trying to run a lot of the trains on the existing infrastructure, not least because of the inadequacy of the power supply system, especially in the old southern region. He is right to raise the issue of lengthening platforms. We must look very carefully at that one. The information that I have received suggests that many of the associated costs relate to regulation that is very difficult to explain or rationalise and which should be slashed. It should be easier to build extensions to platforms, not more difficult, as that would increase capacity on the trains to which he referred.