HL Deb 10 May 1991 vol 528 cc1278-80

11.17 a.m.

Lord Dean of Beswick asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they have taken to ease the cost to British Rail of implementing measures to prevent further disruption of rail services such as occurred as a result of last February's snowstorms.

The Minister of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)

My Lords, British Rail has undertaken a detailed review of the railway's ability to deal with severe weather following the disruption in February and has announced a programme of improvements. I understand that BR expects that most of its recommendations could be financed out of existing budgets and that BR has not put any request for additional funding to the Government. The department has also reviewed the experience of severe weather conditions here and in other European countries and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State hopes to make an announcement about this shortly.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. However, if British Rail finds at a later date that there is an urgent need for further finance to deal with this problem, will the Government give that matter sympathetic consideration bearing in mind that money put in at such a point could be a worthwhile insurance policy against the economic devastation that Britain suffered last winter when we were unprepared for the disruption that took place?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, as I have said, at the moment British Rail has not identified need for additional funding. However, we shall discuss any additional funding requirements that it may have.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, if future difficulties occur, will my noble friend persuade British Rail not to make itself look ridiculous by claiming again that all the troubles are due to the snow being the wrong kind of snow?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I suspect that the spokesman who used that phrase regrets having used it as it has probably entered the annals of British Rail. The problem was caused by snow reaching parts it should not have reached. It consequently caused damage; which takes quite a while to repair.

Lord Airedale

My Lords, is it not rather difficult for British Rail to get it right on these occasions unless it takes. all the precautions that the Swiss Railways take against the most severe weather which hits the British Isles only once in 25 years? Should British Rail not be told to spend its limited resources on other projects which will bring more immediate and more certain benefits?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, the noble Lord makes a valid point. It is right to say that one cannot ensure against every possible eventuality. The weather that we had in February was extremely unusual. As I said in my original Answer, visits have been made to six European countries, including Switzerland, to examine, their operations. Obviously lessons that can be learnt from that experience will be taken on board.

Lord Clinton-Davis

My Lords, perhaps it is not so much the parts that cannot be reached but the Ministers who cannot be reached by British Rail which may account for its reticence. Will the Minister indicate in financial terms the extent of the programme which British Rail now proposes to undertake to deal with the matter and the main lines of that programme, without going into too much detail?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I am not quite sure that I follow the noble Lord's first point about the Ministers who cannot be reached. Ministers have taken a close interest in this matter.

British h Rail has come up with a ten-point plan to try to avoid the type of situation which occurred in February. It includes items on operating, communications with passengers—a very important matter—and engineering modifications which need to be made. I cannot tell the noble Lord the likely costs of the programme as they have not yet been worked out.