§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the three rolling stock companies will tell passenger railway service operators how much they will be charged for using their rolling stock in the current financial year.
§ Mr. FreemanThe timing of this is a matter for the British Rail board. I understand from British Rail that the rolling stock companies intend to issue indicative prices within the next two or three weeks.
§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the terms of the shadow franchise agreements for the six railway shadow franchises which came into operation on 1 April will be finalised; and whether the terms of the agreements including the minimum service specification and the performance standards will be made public.
§ Mr. FreemanIt is the franchising director's intention to finalise the details of the shadow franchise agreements for the first six franchises within the next few months. These will be made public except in so far as that might damage the commercial interest of the businesses concerned.