HL Deb 14 April 1993 vol 544 cc1059-60

Lord Crickhowell asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their intention to dispense with the requirement that the proprietors of motorway service areas must allow access to the patrols of the major motoring organisations and other recovery and repair agencies.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the Government are currently considering a number of representations on the matter.

Lord Crickhowell

My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of the committee of the AA. During his consideration of the issues, will my noble friend ensure that if his department is considering changing the long-established rules—as I believe it is—it will take proper account of the fact that if the motoring organisations and independent operators do not have the right of access to motorway service stations, motorists will be at the mercy of the motorway service operators? There will be a real risk of accidents being caused if motorists attempt to have repairs carried out on the hard shoulder or limp in their vehicles to the nearest exit so that they may have the services of the motoring organisations or independent garages.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, safety remains the Government's top priority on motorways. However, we need to be convinced that there is a real safety problem. It has been suggested that if charges are imposed drivers will leave vehicles on the hard shoulder rather than struggle to safer motorway service areas. However, there is little hard evidence to support that so far.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, does the Minister accept that when, last year, I was involved in a motorway accident, the police would not allow me to wait on the hard shoulder while the RAC came to my rescue? If I had been unable to go to a service area to be rescued, there might have been some difficulties. I hope that the Government will take a serious view of any changes.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, we recognise the safety benefits of the motorway service areas. The whole aim of the deregulation policy is to provide more services more quickly.

Lord Clinton-Davis

My Lords, is there not another element attached to this? While we support the representations that have already been made by the AA and the RAC, is there not also the risk that motorists will be subject to extortionate demands from people, perhaps from the service stations, engaging in the work of repair? I hope, therefore, that the Minister will take back to his colleagues the anxieties that have been expressed by the noble Lord, Lord Crickhowell, and by those of us on the Opposition Benches about these matters. We fully support the motoring organisations in that regard.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I shall, of course, bring the anxieties expressed by the House today to the attention of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State. However, it will be for operators to decide whether and what to charge. The position is the same on non-motorway service areas and other private land and there is little evidence of problems there.

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe

My Lords, I am chairman of the trustees of an employee share ownership scheme of one of the major motorway service organisers. Does the Minister realise that there is deep anxiety that the Government appear to be trying to shift the goal posts after the original contracts have been entered into?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I believe that the Question on the Order Paper refers specifically to access for the RAC and the AA to motorway service areas.

Lord Tordoff

My Lords, does the noble Viscount understand that the situation at motorway service stations is quite different from that on the open highway? The service stations are specifically service stations and not simply a method of making money for certain of the Minister's noble friends on the Back Benches.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, we agree that motorways are a special case and that is why they are subject to special rules; for example, as to which vehicles may use them. The Department of Transport retains control over minimum standards at the motorway service areas. The question is whether special arrangements are needed over AA and RAC access.

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