HL Deb 28 February 1991 vol 526 cc1098-100

3.10 p.m.

Lord Jay asked Her Majesty's Government:

What restrictions of services, and what reductions in staffing levels, will have to be made by London Underground in order to comply with the Government's financial targets, and whether London Underground has postponed planned investments in order to meet those financial targets.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the setting and maintenance of staffing and services levels are operational matters which are the responsibility of London Underground. Like all public sector companies it must operate within its budgetary limits, but large-scale government funding is allowing record levels of investment in the Underground.

Lord Jay

My Lords, does not the Minister realise that the government's financial targets for current expenditure, which are really figures plucked out of the air, have led to staff shortages and cuts in maintenance resulting in delays, congestion, the cancellation of services and the risk of accidents such as the fire on the Central Line one week ago?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I do not accept that any Government figures are plucked out of the air. London Underground's financial objectives have no bearing on the staff service cuts that it is currently contemplating. The lack of available cash this year has provided more impetus in these moves, but it is not a major consideration.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, is it not correct that appointments to the board of London Underground are a matter for the Government and that recently the Government have been exercising their power by appointing outside people with considerable experience?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the chairman of London Underground has wide financial and banking experience. Among his previous appointments was the running of an equivalent railway in Hong Kong. A new financial director has been appointed. As he comes from British Aerospace I believe that the appointment will inspire the confidence not only of London Underground but also your Lordships' House.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, bearing in mind the fact that the Government have a concern with London Underground, will the Minister meet the chairman to inform him that London's public are intensely dissatisfied with the underground's current inefficiency?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, my right honourable friend regularly meets the chairman of London Underground. I am sure that he will put that point forward, but whether the chairman agrees with it is another matter.

Lord Clinton-Davis

My Lords, will the Minister indicate whether there is to be a slow down in the improvement programme relating to escalators? They gave rise to many safety problems, particularly at King's Cross Station. Are the Government likely to follow the comment made by the chairman of London Underground to the Transport Committee in another place? He said: Costs were reduced in a very impressive way. For example, it was decided in the case of escalators to apply the homespun American philosophy, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Unfortunately, it all got broke at the same time".

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I have no information about escalators. However, at more than £400 million, London Underground's investment this year will be at its highest level since our records began. During the next three years LUL plans to invest more than £1.7 billion. Safety is a key priority and an integral part of all major investment projects. LUL forecasts that by the year 2000 it will have spent more than £1 billion on safety.

Lord Clinton-Davis

My Lords, will the Minister say whether the information and the reports are correct in indicating that the rate of improvement in escalators has been slowed down? If he does not have the answer now, will he give the House an undertaking that he will closely investigate the matter with the Secretary of State?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, certainly I shall do so and write to the noble Lord.

Lord Tordoff

My Lords, is it not the case that a further indicator of the underlying problems contained in the Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Jay, is to be seen in the increasing number of "lost time" accidents by the staff of London Underground? That is a worrying trend. Will the Minister investigate to see whether that is due to the financial restriction?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I am prepared to look into anything. The average number of staff for the year 1989–90 was 21,000–1,900 more than the previous year.

Lord Jay

My Lords, is the Minister proud of the fact that London Underground has been forced to send a circular to its staff stating that in the case of fires affecting driver-only trains in tunnels the passengers must organise their own escape?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I happened to read that in an evening paper.