HC Deb 10 May 1990 vol 172 cc215-6W
Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the number of occasions in the first four months of 1990 the railway service from Paddington to the south-west has been seriously disrupted by(a) the weather, (b) flooding, (c) damage to bridges, (d) damage to cables controlling the signalling at Paddington and (e) other factors; whether he has received any request for financial assistance from British Rail with the aim of avoiding repetition of such disruption; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

I understand that railway services from Paddington to the south-west were disrupted by a number of factors on a total of seven days in the first four months of this year. These are operational matters for British Rail and my right hon. Friend has received no special request from BR for financial assistance.