Transport for London: Funding

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Thursday 23rd June 2022 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

Most certainly. My noble friend is absolutely right: about 26,000 staff work for TfL, and they work extremely hard on our behalf. As she pointed out, the difficulties that have arisen over the pandemic have been quite extraordinary, and I pay tribute to the staff on behalf of the Government.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

My Lords, we will now move on—oh, I am sorry, the noble Lord, Lord West, wants to ask a question.

[Lord West of Spithead (Lab)]

My Lords, one of the areas that has not received sufficient investment is transport on the river, which I used during the Tube strike the other day. It worked brilliantly, but there are not enough boats—

--- Later in debate ---

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

I also wish the river were used more; I am the beneficiary of it, in that I use what I would call a ferry from Battersea Power Station up to the London Eye. My understanding is that this service is privately owned and not funded by the Government. The noble Lord makes an extremely good point; it is a valuable service, particularly during the strikes, when more people have needed to use it. I hope that more people will look at the river as a permanent means of transport.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

My Lords, I apologise that we have fallen behind the time, but I am delighted that the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead, asked his question.