§ Mr. KirkhopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future arrangements in respect of Travellers Fare.
§ Mr. PortilloI am pleased to announce that, following a recommendation from the British Railways Board, the Secretary of State has given his consent under section 1 of the Transport Act 1981 to the board's sale of Travellers Fare Limited, its station catering subsidiary, to a new company formed by the Travellers Fare management.
The board's choice of the Travellers Fare management as the new owners follows a competitive tender exercise. The management will be setting up an employee share ownership plan in the new year. I wish the management and staff of Travellers Fare success in the private sector.