BRITISH RAILWAYS (No. 2) BILL (By Order)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 26 June 1979.

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Photo of Mr Patrick McNair-Wilson Mr Patrick McNair-Wilson , New Forest 12:00, 26 June 1979

With the leave of the House, I should like to reply. I deal first with the point raised by the right hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Booth) on the scale of penalties. I am advised that they are in line with the Home Office scale of penalties for similar offences. That is why the figures appear in the Bill.

The right hon. Gentleman and others, including the hon. Member for Manchester, Moss Side (Mr. Morton), the right hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Morris), the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks) and the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape), raised, with differing view points, the question of works Nos. 1 and 2, the Manchester rail link. It is with a heavy heart that I have given an assurance on behalf of British Rail. The British Railways Board does not wish deliberately to cave in, but it recognises that a short-term answer is provided, although it does not meet the ideal circumstances that would be created by the Pic-Vic link.

Were it not for the strong opposition that the Bill has run into on that issue, the promoters would like this legislation to remain intact and be discussed in the normal way. However, because of the urgency indicated by the British Railways Board, and because there is so much difference of opinion, it Is felt that it would be wiser to seek leave in Committee to withdraw that clause so that there can be time for further discussion.

I accept the point made by the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East that there will be much disappointment over this issue. I assure him that there is much disappointment in British Railways Board that it has been necessary to make this accommodation. However, there is no point in pressing ahead with something that apparently does not enjoy very much local support.