§ Ms QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the criteria for allocating rolling stock by the three proposed leasing companies.
§ Mr. FreemanThere will be a number of criteria. The most important are the suitability of rolling stock to the route and to meet the service specified by the Franchising Director. The final allocation of stock will be a matter for negotiation between the rolling stock company and the passenger train operator.
§ Ms QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment he estimates will be required to prepare the rail network for privatisation.
§ Mr. FreemanInvestment in the rail network has been geared to the maintenance and improvement of service standards and has been running at historically high levels in recent. years. Investment levels of around £3 billion announced last November for the three years from 1994–95 continue to support these objectives.