HC Deb 22 April 1996 vol 276 c12
10. Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made over the privatization of the LTS line. [24725]

Mr. Watts

I am pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that bids for the LTS franchise were submitted on 17 April.

Sir Teddy Taylor

As the Minister is aware, Southend is one of the few areas in Britain in which, because of the wholly inadequate service that we have had in recent years, people are looking forward to privatisation. Can he give us some idea of when he expects the new operators to come forward and how they will communicate to the public the benefits that will accrue? Finally, does my hon. Friend see any merit in the idea of holding a public meeting in Southend to enable the new operators to explain their proposals?

Mr. Watts

The award will be made as quickly as possible; my hon. Friend will have noticed that such matters are processed with considerable speed. In considering proposals, the franchising director will have particular regard to contractual commitments to improve the level and/or quality of service beyond that which he specifies. An approach from my hon. Friend inviting the new franchise operator to attend a public meeting to explain the proposals will probably be welcomed by that operator—although of course I do not yet know his identity.