Thursday Volume 535 10 November 2011 No. 223 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 10 November 2011 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2011 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 421 10 NOVEMBER 2011 422 national stations improvement programme, Access for House of Commons All programme and the station commercial project facility. We intend to continue doing so. Thursday 10 November 2011 Jonathan Reynolds: I thank the Minister for that answer. He will know that our local railway network in The House met at half-past Ten o’clock Greater Manchester is incredibly well used, but I am often struck by the poor condition of our stations, particularly the limited accessibility, as lack of step-free PRAYERS access at stations such as Mosley Street, Broadbottom and Newton for Hyde often forces people to travel [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] further down the line than they would like simply to change platforms and come back on the other side. Good quality public transport should of course be available to all, so I ask the Minister to make that a Oral Answers to Questions priority for his Department in future. Norman Baker: I am happy to confirm, as I mentioned a moment ago, that we are continuing with the Access TRANSPORT for All programme. The hon. Gentleman will be interested to know that Stalybridge station in his constituency The Secretary of State was asked— is part of that programme and that construction work is expected to start on site in June 2013 as part of a Aviation Safety £1.8 million project. 1. Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran) (Lab): Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): As you know, What the outcome was of the meeting of the European Mr Speaker, last night I presented a petition signed by Aviation Safety Agency’s advisory group of national 1,200 residents of Bradford-on-Avon hoping to keep authorities on 25 and 26 October 2011; and if she will their station’s ticket office, where footfall was over 400,000 last year. In the light of the McNulty report, will the make a statement [79676] Minister review category E stations for possible upgrade The Secretary of State for Transport (Justine Greening): to category D, so that they would at least retain their The meeting of the advisory group of national authorities ticket offices for part-time hours? provided an opportunity for representatives of EASA Norman Baker: As my hon. Friend will know, the and European Union member states to exchange views Minister of State is involved in a fares and ticketing on a number of safety rules currently under development. review. We are determined to ensure that people are able The discussion will help inform EASA’s development of to buy tickets and access the railway network in a fair the rules in that area. way, which might include ticket offices, better arrangements for automatic sales and access through the internet. The Katy Clark: I thank the Secretary of State for that point he has made is a valid one and I will pass it on to answer. A recent survey of pilots has shown that 43% the Minister of State. said that they had at some point fallen asleep in the cockpit, and 31% said that when they had woken up Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op): the other pilot was also sleeping. Does she agree that Does the Minister recognise the importance of passenger the proposals to increase the time pilots work to up experience in travelling and that that includes having to 13 hours, with fewer rest periods, represent a threat staff at railway stations to provide safety and reassurance to public safety? as well as a good service? Justine Greening: First, I should say that the Civil Norman Baker: Yes, we do. We are very interested in Aviation Authority has received no reports of pilots safety at stations for the reasons the hon. Lady rightly falling asleep under the mandatory occurrence reporting mentions. She will be aware of the secure stations scheme, but obviously we will always be guided by its programme. Around 90% of the railway network has views on safety, for which it has an outstanding reputation been designated as having secure stations, which is well around the world. The Government have expressed our over 1,000 stations. We take that very seriously and concerns about the proposed changes and continue to want to ensure not only that stations are accessible make them known. We will work with other countries physically, but that people have no fear of using the to ensure that the final rules reflect those concerns. railway network so that we are maximising the number of people who are able to travel by train. Railway Stations Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab): Can the hon. Gentleman tell the House how many category E 2. Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/ station ticket offices will be closed as a result of the Co-op): What plans she has for funding of local Government’s plans for the future of the rail industry? railway stations up to 2015. [79677] Norman Baker: As I mentioned a moment ago, we are The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport looking at ticketing and fares generally as part of the (Norman Baker): In addition to planned improvements review we are undertaking, but no decision has been to local railway stations as part of franchise commitments, made on the closure of any category E stations. That the Government are funding improvements through the matter will be considered in the round to ensure that we 423 Oral Answers10 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 424 retain proper access to the railway network. [Interruption.] that would be unroadworthy and dangerous to the The hon. Lady keeps asking, “How many?” I have just public. Will she think again about this very strange set indicated that no decisions have been taken, so the of proposals? answer so far is none. Justine Greening: I appreciate both the correction Maria Eagle: I can tell the hon. Gentleman the from you Mr Speaker—I do not usually get my numbers answer: 675 stations will lose their ticket offices as a wrong—and the very genuine and balanced way in result of his plans, while another 302 will see their which the hon. Gentleman puts his question. It is opening hours cut. With passengers facing up to a 13% important that we have a balanced and informed debate hike in the cost of their tickets in January, does he about any changes to the MOT, and, as he will be aware, understand that his plans to replace staff with machines we in this country go further with our MOT than is will make it even harder to get the best deal and are required under EU legislation, so the proposal was totally out of touch with the public? looked at as part of the red tape challenge. I am considering all the issues, however, and we expect to Norman Baker: It is unfortunate that the hon. Lady make an announcement soon about the timing and asks her supplementary question without listening to scope of the review. my answer to her first. Indeed, she seems to be reinventing her party’s railways policies. The chief executive of the Mrs Glindon: I, too, welcome the Minister to her new Association of Train Operating Companies accused the post. In 2008, the Tories in opposition criticised Labour hon. Lady’s leader of suffering from “amnesia” and of plans to reduce the frequency of MOTs, and, when the displaying—these are his words—“rank hypocrisy” when then Government dropped the policy because of the it came to Labour’s railways policy, so she ought to increased risk of death and many more serious accidents, examine her own policy and her own history before she a then shadow Minister said that he was glad that the starts attacking the Government. policy had been “consigned to the dustbin of history.” Mr Speaker: Order. A word cannot be made orderly simply by putting it into someone else’s mouth, and I So why try to recycle it now? hope that the hon. Gentleman will withdraw it—straight away. Justine Greening: We in this Government are looking across the board to see what we can do to get rid of Norman Baker: I am happy to do so, Mr Speaker. unnecessary red tape and regulation, and the MOT review came up as a result of that, but, as I just said to Mr Speaker: We are most obliged to the Minister. her hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead (Ian Mearns), it is important that we have an informed and balanced debate. I am considering all those points; I met the MOT Tests Motorists Forum yesterday; and I expect to make an announcement soon about the timing and scope of the 3. Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab): What assessment review. she has made of the safety implications of changing the frequency of MOT tests for road vehicles. [79679] Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire) (Con): I join in the welcome given by the House to the Secretary of State. 8. Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab): What Before she throws in the towel on this excellent proposal, assessment she has made of the safety implications of will she reflect on the fact that most of those bleating changing the frequency of MOT tests for road vehicles.