§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if there are any arrangements for independent auditing of British Rail's punctuality data; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellBritish Rail provides the area transport users' consultative committees on a regular basis with punctuality data as one of a number of performance indicators covering quality of service aspects. These enable regular monitoring of BR's performance by an independent body.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the answer of 27 March, he will arrange for British Rail's punctuality statistics to be deposited periodically in the Library.
§ Mr. David MitchellInformation on British Rail's punctuality performance is contained in the annual reports of the British Railways Board and the Central Transport Consultative Committee, which are laid before the Houses and copies placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of British Rail, he will ask him to display punctuality data on trains at all terminating stations.
§ Mr. David MitchellI understand from British Rail that information on train punctuality is already displayed on a regular basis at selected terminating stations. I will, however, be glad to draw my hon. Friend's point to the attention of the chairman.
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§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps British Rail takes to monitor punctuality performance by trains at intermediate stations.
§ Mr. David MitchellI understand that the timings of trains at intermediate stations do not form part of the statistics on punctuality drawn up by British Rail. However, I also understand that British Rail continuously monitors the waiting times of trains at such stations in order to assess the effects on punctuality.