§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of privatisation on British Rail's subsidiary, British Rail Telecom, and on the optic fibre it has already laid.
§ Mr. WattsI have assessed the future of British Rail Telecommunications Ltd. in conjunction with the British Railways Board. Privatisation will best secure for the future the high-quality telecommunications links necessary for railway operations and will also provide opportunities for the company to exploit its significant cable, including optic fibre, network.