LORD BELHAVEN AND STENTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the widespread anxiety felt both in South-West Scotland and Northern Ireland over the future of the Euston—Stranraer boat train, and to ask what their proposed future policy is with regard to this service.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the Government are aware that concern has been expressed over the future of this service. The Government's policy on the service will be decided in the light of their general review of grant-aided rail services. It is for the Railways Board to decide whether to publish a statutory closure notice. If they should do so, full consideration will be given to all relevant factors, and to the views and information which are elicited by the normal closure procedures, before any decision is taken.
LORD BELHAVEN AND STENTONMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Can he tell me whether British Rail are aware of the advantages of the short sea passage and could he tell the House why, in general, they only advertise their services on railway stations where presumably people already know where they are going?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, with regard to the first part of my noble friend's supplementary question, it is the boat train that we are discussing, and of all the people who go to Stranraer only about 25 per cent. actually use the boat. With regard to the second part of his question, we are aware of the situation.
LORD INGLEWOODMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he could confirm that it was a condition of the agreement to close the line from Dumfries direct to Stranraer that this particular boat train service via Ayr should continue?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords, it is quite true that we are aware of this condition. This condition was imposed by the late Mr. Marples when he was Minister, and it will not be lifted until the consultations with the Scottish Economic Council and the Transport Users' Consultative Committee are complete. If a closure proposal is published this consultation will be carried out as part of the closure procedure.
§ LORD FERRIERMy Lords, can my noble friend give us an assurance that in the consultation they will take into account the impact of road traffic on the most inadequate roads that might arise from the closure of this service?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords; that is certainly one of the things that will be taken into account.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, will the noble Lord arrange to inform "the late Mr. Marples" of his new status?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I must apologise to the right honourable gentleman in another place.
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, may I ask whether the Government will take an 217 early decision on this matter, as it might reasonably be expected that they will be influenced in their decision by views recently expressed when in Opposition?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in November that we were reviewing our policy on grant-aided railway passenger services and this is happening at the moment. The Railways Board are expected to make a decision on this particular case in the next two or three weeks.
§ LORD POPPLEWELLMy Lords, as the noble Lord indicated, this type of policy was introduced by hi right honourable friend Mr. Marples when he was Minister of Transport. It has had a very long run. Will the noble Lord suggest to the Minister of the Environment that the time has come when we should take another look at this type of policy? Because in closing down these branch lines and railway services the excuse given at the time was that there would be efficient road services. We have found from experience that road services are being curtailed because they are not profitable; and now throughout the country as a whole there is a very serious shortage of transport. Will the noble Lord press upon his right honourable friend to take another look at this type of policy to see whether further attention should now be given to the actual service nature as distinct from the profit nature of this undertaking?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think the question of the noble Lord is going a little wide of the Question on the Order Paper. This is dealing with a long-distance train which is very little used and patronised. The area we are talking about is generally still fairly well served by trains.
§ LORD STRANGEMy Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that it is very depressing for passengers going to Stranraer to hear it announced on the radio that, "The train for Stranraer now standing at platform 6 is for sale"?
§ LORD FERRIERMy Lords, will my noble friend make sure that attention is paid to the fact that this train serves a very large area, for sleeper services 218 to London, from South Western Scotland, irrespective of the boat train service?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords. But the fact is that if this train were better patronised it would be more economic. The average daily use is something like 31 people per day to and from Stranraer.
LORD BELHAVEN AND STENTONMy Lords, can my noble friend give us some forecast of what effect the closure of the Euston-Stranraer train service would have on the Larne-Belfast line?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I assume that the noble Lord is referring to the boat ferry. The boat ferry is a profitable concern running at profitable rates, and there is no question of that being affected.