Mr Reginald Eyre: I understand that the estimate for the private rail fleet is about 300 a year. I hope that that information helps the hon. Gentleman. I wish to deal now with maintenance and repairs where the effects on the work load have been nearly as dramatic. In 1981, the repair work load was nearly 15,000 wagons. This year, because of the technical changes that I have described, it will be just over...
Mr Reginald Eyre: My right hon. Friend made it quite clear that the Government have not been involved in any way with management decisions. I can only say to the hon. Gentleman that, to my knowledge, no one in management was entitled to put forward any view of that kind. I can only assume that it was not put forward officially.
Mr Reginald Eyre: The hon. Gentleman was suggesting earlier that a reprieve had been put forward. As I understand it, there were some negotiations between management, operating in its own right as management, and the unions about the rate of rundown, but it did not amount to a reprieve in the terms that the hon. Gentleman was describing. I shall not be drawn more than that. I have tried to explain the position...
Mr Reginald Eyre: The right hon. Gentleman must take account of all the factors that I have mentioned, which the BREL management is doing. There is this great stock build-up of new wagons. The replacement programme takes account of that existing stock, which has to be distributed among the BREL workshops throughout the country. The BREL management is doing those calculations very carefully and responsibly....
Mr Reginald Eyre: The hon. Gentleman must forgive me if I do not give way. I have only a few minutes left. I say to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland that BREL has made it clear that it wishes to work through the local enterprise trusts with the local authorities and private firms to help in the process of creating new opportunities and work. Government Departments and agencies stand ready to play their...
Mr Reginald Eyre: I understand that the British Railways Board is undertaking a detailed study of such a rail link, and my right hon. Friend and I will consider any proposals which it puts forward.
Mr Reginald Eyre: We discussed this subject last night. Indeed, the Government gave their support to the Second Reading of the British Railways Bill, which gives power to safeguard the land necessary for the Manchester airport link. It is for British Rail to judge whether there is a case for investment in that link and to make proposals, which we shall then consider.
Mr Reginald Eyre: The Government supported the British Railways Bill, which was debated last night. The hon. Gentleman is right to emphasise the connection between this scheme and the other two schemes. However, in all those schemes it is for British Rail to consider the issues involved and to make its proposals in due course.
Mr Reginald Eyre: I have explained that it is for the Britsh Railways Board to consider the investment aspect of those railway developments and to bring forward proposals. The Government will then give its representations careful and prompt attention.
Mr Reginald Eyre: I welcome the important part that minibuses already play in enabling disabled people to get about in both urban and rural areas. I should like to see their role extended in a way that complements conventional public transport, and I am considering how the legislation might be simplified to help this.
Mr Reginald Eyre: From his description of the service, I thought that my hon. Friend might be referring to the proposals of the Associated Mini-bus Operators. It would be for London Transport to decide whether to enter into an agreement to allow such services to run. However, as my hon. Friend knows, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has an appellant function which precludes my discussing the merits...
Mr Reginald Eyre: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for having cited that case, which I shall certainly examine. I am told that the Transport and Road Research Laboratory is also doing substantial research in that area. We are certainly willing to consider providing facilities that assist the disabled.
Mr Reginald Eyre: I assure the hon. Gentleman that all matters and applications of that kind will be considered carefully on their merits.
Mr Reginald Eyre: In 1980 and 1981 the payments were £20·5 million and £20·6 million respectively, subject to audit. Final figures of payments for 1982 are not yet available, but the section 20 claim for the year was £27·8 million.
Mr Reginald Eyre: I cannot comment on the first matters that the hon. Gentleman mentioned, because they are the responsibility of the Strathclyde regional council. In answer to the hon. Gentleman's second point, the rail services required by the PTE govern eventually the calculation of the costs involved.
Mr Reginald Eyre: No. To my knowledge it is confined to the Strathclyde area.
Mr Reginald Eyre: None, Sir, but I understand that the British Railways Board is considering various options for the next generation of high speed electric trains.
Mr Reginald Eyre: It is for the British Railways Board to decide on the next generation of high-speed electric trains. I understand that British Rail is working on three possibilities—the APT, to which the hon. Gentleman referred and for which some important design changes have been proposed; the class 89 locomotive; and the electric version of the high-speed train, to which the hon. Gentleman also referred.
Mr Reginald Eyre: I note my hon. Friend's general comments, but I must emphasise that technical decisions on the next generation of locomotives are for British Rail.
Mr Reginald Eyre: I am sorry, but I was unable to catch the last part of the hon. Gentleman's question.
