Bicycles (Rail Carriage)

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 February 1997.

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Photo of Mr Harry Barnes Mr Harry Barnes , North East Derbyshire 12:00, 10 February 1997

Is it not a good idea for cyclists to make use of the railway? I understand that the Secretary of State has an honourable record on this in connection with work that he produced when he was a Back Bencher, which involved my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing). However, has not a new situation arisen with the railways' fragmentation? It has presented many blocks and problems, so that information to cyclists about moving throughout the system is difficult to obtain. Pre-booking is beginning to be required. There is the costs problem and there is no official monitoring of cyclists' problems. Perhaps it is time for the Secretary of State to get on his bike and sort those things out.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Back Bencher

A Backbencher is a Member who holds no official position in government or in his or her party. Back benchers sit on the back benches in the Chamber.