§ Lord GainfordMy 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 how much capital was spent on the electrification of the railway between Bedford and St. Pancras.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, the most recent estimate made by the Railways Board of the total cost of modernising and electrifying the London to Bedford railway line is £153½ million at mid-1981 prices. Almost 40 per cent. of this figure is for work on re-signalling as well as track and route improvements which will also benefit diesel hauled Inter-City and freight traffic.
§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that Answer. Arising out of the information that the money includes design for new trains, has he any information about the dispute between British Rail and ASLEF concerning the fact that these trains require only one driver and not two? The result is that these trains have been idle up to now.
§ The Earl of AvonNo, my Lords, I have no further information on the dispute about which we had a Statement very recently. In a letter to the unions on 25th June the board suggested progress on several productivity issues, including this one, and proposed a three-month experiment with driver-only operations between London and St. Albans and dual manning open stations between St. Albans and Bedford. I understand that the NUR have not accepted this suggestion.
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, is it not a fact that this question indicates the lack of adequate publicity for both sides of the dispute? Is it not a fact that this is one of three proposals which arose out of the original ACAS discussions? Is it not a fact that these three proposals have been referred to the national tribunal for discussion without any preconceived ideas on both sides? Moreover, is it not a fact that the NUR have said that trains can run on this route with the extra additional man while the discussions take place?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, the NUR have put up counter proposals. I am not quite sure what are the three proposals to which the noble Lord refers. However, there were six productivity proposals last year and discussions throughout the year have been continuing on this matter.
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, the three proposals which arose out of the ACAS discussions were the open manning of stations, which would relieve men for other duties and save money; the single manning of passenger trains; and the new train concept of customer service on trains with assistance also to the driver with rather reduced safety provisions.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, that is what I thought the noble Lord was referring to. Discussions started last year, and the noble Lord, Lord McCarthy, has also commented on this matter.