HL Deb 17 July 2000 vol 615 cc761-2

(". The Authority shall exercise its powers under section 80 of the Railways Act 1993 to obtain information (and publish the same in such manner as is calculated to bring it to the attention of those with an interest in such information) at such intervals as it may consider appropriate regarding—

  1. (a) spare capacity in respect of railway facilities and network installations, and
  2. (b) assets, revenue and profits by reference to such regions as the Authority may consider appropriate.").

The noble Earl said: In moving Amendment No. 364, I wish to speak also to Amendment No. 365. If the railway service is to improve and expand, new operators should be encouraged to come onto the scene. In order to encourage them, information about where spare capacity and commercial opportunities exist should be made available. It has been suggested that Railtrack's monopoly over track and signalling could be open to tender on certain stretches of the existing network. This new clause will oblige Railtrack to split its figures in order to reveal the assets and make clear the revenues and profits on a regional basis. That better accounting will help in negotiations for the upgrading of lines.

Amendment No. 365 is designed to ensure that Railtrack's maintenance of track and other facilities is monitored closely and that it is named and shamed for failings in that respect. I beg to move.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

I contend that these amendments are not necessary. These matters are already within the jurisdiction of the Rail Regulator and he is dealing with them. He has a consultation process under way in relation to a set of licence modifications under Sections 12 to 15 of the Railways Act 1993. Those relate to the setting of access charges by Railtrack, the information that it provides annually to the regulator about its activities in relation to the network management statement, and matters concerning the condition, capacity and capability of Railtrack's assets.

The six separate regional supplements to the network management statement focus on regional investment expenditure and on the role of the rail network in the economic and social development of each region. They reflect the development of regional transport strategies and local transport plans. In November last year the regulator announced that he also intended to consult about a further licence condition requiring Railtrack to establish and maintain a comprehensive and reliable register of its assets.

Those actions cover the elements that the amendments would require. Therefore, the amendments duplicate existing work of the Rail Regulator. I hope that the noble Earl is reassured by that and that he will withdraw his amendment.

Earl Attlee

I thank the Minister for his response. I shall read it in Hansard and, in the meantime, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

[Amendment No. 365 not moved.]

Earl Attlee moved Amendment No. 366: After Clause 249, insert the following new clause—