§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy 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 to state what is the system of inspection of motorway service and refreshment stations, the frequency of reports, and whether they are published.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, there are frequent inspections of catering facilities by all local authority public health inspectors. Officials of the Department of the Environment inspect service areas, including catering facilities, at least four times a year. Inspection reports are not published.
§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that information, may I ask whether he is aware that these service stations sometimes fall conspicuously below the standard that we should like to see achieved; and that when they do so it is not only uncomfortable and disappointing for those wishing to use them, both for refreshment for themselves and their motor cars, but is also very bad for the 1634 tourist trade? Is the noble Lord aware that it appears that some tightening up of the inspection system seems to he required? Also is he aware that a system of publishing reports might be stimulating to licence holders?
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, we are aware that there are periods when the standard of service falls short of what we are confident the operators would like it to be. The House ought to know that the service stations are open 24 hours a day, and there are periods when they are under heavy pressure. With regard to tightening-up inspections, I will draw the attention of the Department to what the noble Lord has said, but I should like to add that a recent survey showed that the vast majority of people who use service stations appear to be satisfied with the standard of service.
§ LORD POPPLEWELLMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that local authority inspectors' reports on service stations can vary considerably, area by area, according to the interpretation that is placed by the local medical officer of health on an inspector's report. In view of the importance of these motorway service stations to our tourist traffic, is it possible for a code to be established, giving guidance to local authorities on the standard which they should expect at each of these important stations?
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I am very much aware of the first point that my noble friend has made and, indeed, I have personally drawn the attention of the Department to the variation. I will draw the attention of my right honourable friend to the second part of my noble friend's remarks.
§ LORD HAILSHAM OF SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, as well as drawing the attention of his right honourable friend to the matter, will the noble Lord, when he goes on his holiday—which I hope he will very greatly enjoy—visit some of these stations himself? He will undoubtedly find that many of them are very nasty and smelly.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I have visited them when I have been travelling North. But I have not had the pleasure of being in a service station when the noble and learned Lord opposite has also been there.
§ LORD PEDDIEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, while some of these refreshment stations are appallingly bad, some are quite good? Will the noble Lord agree that the publication of reports indicating comparative standards would be in the public interest, and would at least make some contribution towards raising the standards of those that I have already described as being appallingly had, bringing them up to the standard of those that are quite good?
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I will draw the attention of my right honourable friend to what my noble friend has said.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that most of the motorway service station areas are operated on a rental and royalty basis, and is there any opportunity during the term of a contract for such a basis to be renegotiated in the light of financial circumstances?
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I rather think not.
§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the basic point here is that these stations have within their area a monopoly interest, and, therefore, it is the responsibility of the Government and of the local authorities to protect the public to see that a proper standard is observed? While I sympathise with his defence of the position, is the noble Lord aware that improvements can be achieved and that those of us who travel abroad in Europe have seen such improvements achieved in other countries; notably in Italy, where the service stations have gone from being very bad to very good? Will the noble Lord therefore exert his utmost influence to see that a real improvement is achieved in this area?
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I certainly appreciate what the noble Lord has said, and indeed I myself have been making much the same representations. However, I have to remind the House that these service stations are operated privately and that the operators expect to make a profit. Indeed, if they did not make a profit it would be impossible to supply any facilities at all.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware of the high prices 1636 charged in these service stations? Is he also aware that the disease now seems to have spread to the Lords' Dining Room?
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I am acutely aware of the latter point made by my noble friend.
§ LORD SLATERMy Lords, will my noble friend agree, in view of the great interest that has been shown in this Question, that the inspectorate to which he referred is inadequate to meet the situation and ought to be increased?
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, I can certainly say that this matter will be looked at.