§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement concerning recent increases in the number of complaints made to rail companies. [51875]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 21 July 1998,Official Report, column 466. Since that answer, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced in his statement on transport policy on 20 July, our plans to set up a Strategic Rail Authority with stronger powers to enforce the delivery of contractual obligations by train operators. We also expect the SRA to specify more demanding performance standards for new or any renegotiated franchises.