HL Deb 16 May 1991 vol 528 cc1742-4

3.12 p.m.

Lord Allen of Abbeydale asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied with the response so far by London Regional Transport to the objectives laid down by the then Secretary of State for Transport on 20th December 1989 for the improvement of escalators on the Underground.

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

My Lords, yes. London Underground was asked to increase escalator availability from 78 per cent. to 86 per cent. by 31st March 1992. In the last quarter of 1990 it achieved an overall availability of 85 per cent.

Lord Allen of Abbeydale

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. I acknowledge straight away that there has been an improvement. However, since I put the Question down I have been deluged with horror stories, including complaints about escalators which are repaired after a very long time and then break down again.

As the Minister explained, the objective set by the Government—I have it with me—was that by next April 86 per cent. of the 275 escalators should be available and that those that were available should function for 95 per cent. of the time. In other words, the Government found it acceptable that 14 per cent. of the escalators—that is, almost 40—should be permanently out of use and that those that were available need not function all the time. Is that not rather defeatist? Should not the aim be to have all the escalators working all the time the stations are open?

Lori Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, that is clearly an impossible target, desirable though it may be. Maintenance and renewals have to take place. But we should like to see a higher availability than 86 per cent. After London Underground has met that target, we shall review the situation with regard to what will happen; after 1992. I merely point out that shortly after the King's Cross disaster, when many escalators were taken curt of service for quite a bit of work to be done on them, availability was down to 76 per cent. Therefore there has been considerable improvement, although I admit that further improvement is required.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the hardship caused to disabled people or people with baggage by escalators being persistently out of use? In the light of the gloomy figures that he has just given to your Lordships, will he consider further the answer that he gave me a few months ago when I suggested that the Government might appoint to London Underground an officer who knew something about escalators?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, since my noble friend asked me the last question, there has been an improvement in the situation, as has been shown by the figures that I have given today. I am well aware of the inconvenience and hardship that can be caused to disabled people as a result of escalators being out of service. London Underground does its best to ensure the convenience of all passengers. It puts up notices and, where possible, announcements of all unavailable escalators.

Lord John-Mackie

My Lords, does the word "improvement" refer to new escalators? I should not mind a new one at Westminster and Liverpool Street Stations

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, there is a programme for new escalators to be installed; but whether it includes those two stations I do not know.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, I query whether the Minister's reply states the position. Does he regularly view the performance statistics that London Underground publishes every four weeks, which we welcome? The statistics give important information. Is he aware that for four weeks in February the breakdown of no less than 37 per cent. of escalators was caused by defects? Although there was an improvement in March, the proportion is still nearly one-quarter of escalators. If one adds the maintenance work and defects together, it is almost 80 per cent., and that takes no account of replacement work. It is a substantial proportion. Is sufficient labour available to carry out those tasks? Are there discussions with trade unions relating to much of the work being undertaken outside service hours?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I cannot identify the figures that the noble Lord has quoted. The figures that I have indicate that 85 per cent. of escalators were available in the last quarter of last year. I understand that that is still the case. We monitor the quarterly performance reviews which contain performance data for all targeted areas on the Underground, and that includes escalators. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State is in frequent touch with the chairman to discuss progress and problems.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, the information that I have given is taken from the performance statistics.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, yes. However, the noble Lord quoted 80 per cent. of escalators being out of order. That is just not the case.

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy

My Lords, as targets are rarely, if ever, met, why is the target for escalators in working order not 100 per cent.?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, after the King's Cross fire the percentage of escalators which were working was so poor that the Government set London Underground a realistic but tough target. That target is monitored and it is in the process of being achieved.

Viscount Hanworth

My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that part of the problem may be that insufficient spares are readily available?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I cannot give a reason. Whether or not that is true, a large programme needed to be undertaken following the recommendations of the Fennell Report into the King's Cross fire which required the removal of all the wooden parts of all escalators. That was a major undertaking.