HL Deb 05 July 1988 vol 499 cc140-1

2.43 p.m.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their policy to encourage and facilitate the reintroduction of the trolleybus for stage carriage passenger transport operations.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the Government will certainly encourage the reintroduction of trolleybuses if they are shown to be the most effective way of meeting travellers' requirements and that their benefits properly justify their costs.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for what must be a helpful reply. Does he not agree that the trolleybus is a superb vehicle for town operation? It is smooth and silent; it has superb acceleration and braking; and it is fumeless. Does the noble Viscount also not agree that it is suitable for the environment and that recent studies have shown that the operating costs are likely to be about 50 per cent. below those of a motor bus? The trolleybus would be very helpful in promoting public transport and helping to solve the traffic crisis in our towns and cities.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I am tempted to agree with the noble Lord, Lord Stoddart of Swindon. However, like everything else, trolleybuses have both advantages and disadvantages. I understand that discussions are in progress between the department and the West Yorkshire passenger transport executive to evaluate them.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, do the noble Viscount and his department recall the report of January 1987 on innovation in surface transport produced by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology? In that report there are favourable references to the reintroduction of trolleybuses. Is the noble Viscount aware that included in the appendices are five very encouraging statements to that effect? In the light of the remarks the noble Viscount has made, is there any intention to conduct a fairly quick inquiry into the effectiveness of trolleybuses for public transport and the energy saving involved? Will there also be an economic assessment?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, if the noble Lord had given me prior notice of that question I should have been able to find the answer. Unfortunately, I do not have the answer; I shall write to the noble Lord.