§ 3.14 p.m.
§ Lord BRIGINSHAWMy 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 have made inquiries of London Transport about the recent series of articles in a London evening newspaper which disclosed a serious deterioration in the London Underground system.
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, the main criticisms in the series of articles in the London Evening Standard are directed to the environmental quality of the London Underground, so it is for the London Transport Executive itself in the first place to evaluate and react to the criticisms. Much has been done and is still being done to improve the environmental quality of the Underground, but both London Transport's operating costs and its capital investment are already heavily subsidised, and it is difficult for the Greater London Council, in whom statutory responsibility for the London Transport Executive is vested, to find even greater resources at the present time.
§ Lord BRIGINSHAWMy Lords, may I seek the indulgence of the House for a moment in order to thank my noble friend Baroness Stedman for her reply and to congratulate her on her promotion to the Front Bench? In referring to the costs of the subsidy, may I ask whether she considers that careful note should be taken and, perhaps, further representations should be made? The capital cost of the Underground system—except for the Fleet Line—has already been paid off. Does my noble friend agree that it is still the cheapest way to move a large number of people? Further, despite what my noble friend said, is she aware that the efficiency of the Tube has deteriorated from being at one time the greatest and most efficient system to being dilapidated and, in many senses, a subterranean slum?
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, may I also crave the indulgence of the House and thank my noble friend for his congratulations, and reciprocate them in the sense that I believe this is the first time my noble friend has asked a Question in your Lordships' House. Regarding the costs of London Transport, of course they have tremendous financial constraints. On the revenue side, it is estimated that this year the deficit on the London Transport executive account will be £93 million, and of this some £17 million is attributable to the Underground operations. The Government are meeting £53 million of this through the Transport Supplementary Grant, and the remaining £40 million will fall on the rate fund. So, until fares at least match the costs, careful thought must be given to any proposals which might further increase this terrific burden.
The grant by the Greater London Council towards the capital expenditure on Underground works is also totalling £31 million during the current year, 70 per cent. of which will be ranking for expenditure under the Transport Supplementary Grant. But it is interesting to note that, in the entire series of articles in the London newspaper, there was never any suggestion or criticism of the efficiency of the running of London Transport. London Transport have to get their priorities right. Up to this time, they have considered the careful, rapid and quick movement of London's population about London to be their first priority, and have put that over and above the reconditioning of the stations. They have the right to decide their own priorities.