§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he expects in the current structure and practice of national negotiations and conciliation practises within the railway service consequent to the implementation of the Railways Bill; and what assessment he has made of the consequent desirability of maintaining a single structure of training and qualifications for various grades of personnel other than the means of funding such internal training and supervision of operating standards.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 2 February 1993]: The existing national arrangements for those parts of the business that remain in BR will be unchanged, subject to any renegotiation found to be necessary after privatisation. Arrangements for negotiation and conciliation with employees in those parts of BR that transfer to the private sector will be for the new owners and employees.
The Railway Industry Training Council, a voluntary body, already has private sector representation. There is no reason why its work should not continue after privatisation.