Government transport policy comes under fire

Business Travel Show 2004 Special: Shadow transport secretary Theresa May has accused the Government of breaking its promises over the UK’s infrastructure and for meddling in areas they know nothing about. She told Labour to let the experts – and not Downing Street – run the railways, and criticised the ordering of yet another review of the industry. Speaking at the launch of the 2004 Business Travel Show at London’s Olympia, Ms May said: “The Government must provide stability that encourages investment and ensures the transport infrastructure meets the needs of the public. “We have not seen that stability we were promised. Two weeks ago the Government’s reaction to the situation on the railways was to have another review. No one wants another review. “What we need is to ensure the private sector has the confidence to invest and the Government to consult with the industry. Business travel is a sensitive indicator of the public health of business.” Ms May called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw what she labelled as the Government’s “hit squad” who will probe four train operators over their running of services. “When the going gets tough they send in the bureaucrats,” she said. “We need to cut unnecessary interference.” The Tory MP said a major failing was in trying to change the public’s behaviour to fit policy. A Conservative Government would “put people before plans,” insisted Ms May. During an inevitably critical assessment of Labour’s transport policy, Ms May also criticised the recent white paper on the future of the aviation industry which proposed another runway at Stansted. “There should have been more of an environmental impact assessment,” she said. “And as far as I am aware, the Government has no plans to debate the white paper in parliament.” Dropping major road building schemes was also a mistake, she added. Guild of Business Travel Agents chief executive Philip Carlisle welcomed Ms May’s backing of the corporate sector and urged her to lobby on behalf of business agents’. Security was a major concern, he said, with US authorities likely to start demanding information about travellers that is not included in passports. “One of the most problematic issues could be the address of a business traveller’s first stay in the US,” he said. “Many business travellers don’t know where they will be staying when they book. “We understand the security situation but do the Americans really need the extra information. And who is going to fund this? We are concerned it will be us.” Meanwhile, Mr Carlisle predicted the business sector could bounce back in 2004 after encouraging last quarter’s revenue figures of 2003 showing a 6% rise year on year. Report by Steve Jones