§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) under what authority the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising is seeking to appoint marketing communication advisers to promote investor interest in passenger rail franchises;
(2) what assessment he has made of the compatibility with the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising's statutory obligations of seeking to promote investor interest in the privatisation of rail franchises; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanSeeking to promote investor interest in rail franchises is an integral part of the Franchising Director's statutory duties to designate railway passenger services as eligible for provision under franchise agreements and to invite tenders for the right to provide these services from such persons as he sees fit. The Franchising Director's intention to draw on the expertise of marketing advisers is consistent with the Secretary of State's objectives set for him under section 5 of the Act to secure that railway passenger services in Great Britian, other than exempted services, are provided under franchise agreements as soon as reasonably practicable; and to secure an overall improvement in the quality of railway passenger and station services available to railway passengers.