§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what commitments he has made to the on-going financing of the first seven years of the London Underground public-private partnership. [159794]
§ Mr. HillThe financial requirements of London Underground under the public-private partnership will not finally be known until negotiations with preferred bidders have been completed. The PPP is about obtaining best value in the way that farebox revenue and any public subsidy is spent. The Government have made it clear that, as long as it proves value for money to do so, then Transport for London will receive the appropriate level of central government grant to allow for London Underground's need to make payments to the PPP contractors.