§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether Railtrack's refusal to agree any further contractually guaranteed journey times with passenger train operators will contribute to the achievement of improved reliability and growth targets contained in the 10—year transport plan.
§ The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)My Lords, track access agreements are matters for the train operating companies and the network infrastructure manager. In the event that the parties fail to agree, the Rail Regulator has the power both to determine the terms of an access contract and to direct the parties to enter into one.
Lord BerkeleyMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble and learned friend for that Answer. Is he aware that four train operators, including Great Western Trains and South West Trains, have been told by Railtrack that it can no longer guarantee timetable paths? Does he agree that that therefore means that no timetable can be relied upon? Of course, it also means that Railtrack will not have to pay compensation to any of the train operators for delays or for digging up the track. Given that the Government are probably paying three-quarters of Railtrack's costs at present, is there anything that they believe they should be doing about this before the administration ends?
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonMy Lords, it is for the train operating companies and Railtrack in administration to negotiate the terms of the arrangements that exist between them. The Rail Regulator has a role in that. If he is not satisfied with the arrangements that are being made, he can intervene. I believe that that is the right way for the matter to be left.
§ Lord BradshawMy Lords, does the Minister agree that the job of a regulator in any privatised industry is to promote efficiency, reduce the prices charged to users, secure safety and promote the sharing of capacity? Which of those duties does the Minister consider the regulator to have discharged successfully? If the answer is none, why is he still in his job?
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonMy Lords, as read out to me, the summary of the role of the regulator sounds correct, but I hope that noble Lords will not hold me to the precise wording. I believe that the regulator has an incredibly important role to play in relation to the rail industry. Precisely where the rail industry is in relation to each of those issues is plainly a matter for conjecture. However, it is important that, in performing his role, the Rail Regulator delivers on all the tasks to which the noble Lord referred in his summary of the Rail Regulator's role.
§ Viscount AstorMy Lords, the Minister is very proud of his Government's 10-year transport plan. 637 However, can he explain how the train operators are expected to co-operate with that plan when they are being given only a two-year extension to their franchises?
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonMy Lords, the 10-year plan sets out a proposal for infrastructure in this country. It deals with the future of the rail industry. My right honourable friend in another place explained some time ago why two-year extensions were being given. It was in the context of the long-term future of transport in this country.
§ Lord Campbell of AllowayMy Lords, is the noble and learned Lord aware whether Railtrack is aware that the track between platforms 1 and 2 at Lewes station is in a decrepit and wholly dangerous state and has been for some time?
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonMy Lords, I was not aware of that until the noble Lord mentioned it. Obviously his remark will be passed straight to Railtrack.