To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the extent of achievement of the performance targets set by his Department for the operation of the Tyne Valley rail service; and if he will make a statement.

British Rail recognises that the quality of service on some lines in the north-east is lower than the customer is entitled to expect and it is taking steps to improve its performance.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer. Will he give the lie to those mischief makers in my constituency who say that the Tyne Valley line is to be closed? Will he confirm, first, that British Rail has no plans to close the line and, secondly, that when British Rail is privatised, as I hope that it soon will be, the line will continue to receive a large subsidy from the Government?

I can certainly confirm that there are no plans to close the Tyne Valley services.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear on a number of occasions that the fact that we are seeking to privatise British Rail does not mean that we would not continue to offer subsidies to provincial rail services.

rose——

The hon. Gentleman is not from the relevant part of the world.

My question is connected.

The hon. Gentleman may continue.

Does the Minister agree that part of the improvement of service on the Tyne Valley line involves the improvement of safety? Is he not alarmed at the 700 accidents that have occured, some on the Tyne Valley line where passengers have fallen from trains? There was one such accident in my constituency a fortnight ago, when a man fell from a moving train into the path of another train, and 100 passengers have been killed in such accidents. Should not the Minister press British Rail for a fresh, independent investigation into such accidents?

Any accident of that sort is serious and each one is individually dealt with by the railway inspectorate. There is no common consistency in the accidents to which the hon. Gentleman referred.