HL Deb 16 July 2001 vol 626 cc106-7WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that the quality of railway transport services provided in the United Kingdom should be no less favourable than that of other European countries, such as France; and. if not, why not. [HL200]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)

As explained in my Answer on 4 July, [Official Report, col. WA 50], there are significant national variations in the context for rail, including the level of subsidy from the taxpayer and the priority given to rail in national transport policies over successive decades. I would expect the quality of rail services to reflect these variations. The Government recognises that there has been under investment in the railways over many years and the 10 Year Plan provides for £60 billion worth of investment which will enable the capacity and quality of Britain's railways to be improved.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have information on the number of signals passed at danger by train drivers in France; and, if so, whether they will publish it. [HL166]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

This information is not held by the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate.

Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 4 July (WA 50), what studies they, as opposed to Railtrack and train operators, have made of the engineering and operational performance of the Swiss railways, SNCF, and other national rail systems; what conclusions they have drawn about the comparative quality of service provided by Railtrack and the operational companies in the United Kingdom; and how far such studies will inform their policy for the future of the railways in the United Kingdom. [HL232]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

The Government have not carried out such comparative studies in recent years. However the Office of the Rail Regulator, in its work, draws on information about performance on maintenance and track condition in a number of countries.