§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Prime Minister if he will indicate the criteria he employed in determining which lines should be subject to his intervention in the decision by British Rail on fare increases on individual lines; and what is his policy on intervention in day-to-day decisions on management within nationalised industries.
§ Mr. MacGregorI have been asked to reply.
The boards of nationalised industries are appointed to manage their industries in accordance with the financial frameworks and objectives set by the Government. The Government have no wish to involve themselves in day-to-day management matters. However, the chairmen regularly consult Ministers about major management decisions which may have an impact on the achievement of their objectives. British Rail's recent fares increases are a case in point. In commenting on British Rail's proposals, Ministers took account of the citizens charter principle that increases should be related to quality of service; the need to fund BR's large investment programme and our general policy that the burden of funding BR should be progressively shifted from taxpayers to passengers.