§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what directions have been given to the British Railways Board in respect of reductions in staffing or manpower of its employees; and what efficiency targets or other targets have been given to the board which impinge on future staffing levels.
§ Mr. PortilloThe only formal directions given to the railways board in recent years concern accounting provision and loan repayments. The objectives which the Government wish the board to pursue were set out in a letter from the Secretary of State to the Chairman on 21 October 1986, and published in theOfficial Report of the same day (columns 772–74). The quality of service standards agreed between the Government and board were published in the Official Report on 17 July 1987 (columns 671–72). It is for the board to decide how best to meet those objectives, including the levels of manpower required.