§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy 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 received a report on the signal control room at Earl's Court which demonstrates that the nuisance suffered by passengers at Putney Bridge station is due to the refusal of British Rail to transfer control of the Wimbledon/Putney section of the line to London Transport and whether they will intervene to bring this about.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I have seen the report by the Putney Society and sent copies to British Rail and London Transport, since it concerns matters of railway operation which are entirely their responsibility. I understand from them that there are no proposals for control of the Wimbledon to Putney section of line to be transferred from one operator to the other, but that they will look into the society's complaint about information given to passengers at Putney Bridge Station.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that I am most grateful to him for looking into this matter, as will all those people be who travel from Putney Bridge Station? For too many years, as I think he will know, passengers have been walking up one row of stairs only to watch a train disappearing from the further platform, and then they have had to walk back again and sometimes watch another train disappear from the original platform as they do so. This has gone on far too long. I understand that the problem can be solved by co-operation between British Rail and London Transport, and if the noble Earl's intervention has resulted in bringing that about, a lot of people will be very grateful to him, including myself.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I am told that steps have immediately been taken to correct this deficiency. Perhaps if the noble Lord still finds himself running up and down stairs he will let me know.