§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to establish a public interest company or trust for the London Underground.[81117]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOur plan is to implement a public-private partnership for London Underground. This will require changes to the structure of London Underground as a company, so that it becomes an operations business, responsible for operating train services and stations. It will remain in the public sector and will transfer in due course to the Greater London Authority and Transport for London, restoring local democratic accountability for its performance. We have no plans to establish a trust.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the financial advice given to his Department and London Transport indicated that a public private partnership for London Underground represented best value. [81116]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe financial advice which informed our decision to pursue a public-private partnership for London Underground suggested that this route was likely to offer best value. The reasons for the Government's choice of the option currently being taken forward by London Underground were set out in a paper, "London Underground Public-Private Partnership: Facts and Analysis", which was deposited in the Library on 20 March 1998.