§ Lord Tebbitasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who is the ultimate controlling party of Rail track plc. [HL4340]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonSince 7 October 2001, the special railway administrators (Alan Bloom, Christopher Hill, Scott Martin and Michael Rollings) have managed the affairs, business and property of Railtrack plc.
§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the nationalisation of Railtrack would he compatible with European Community law. [HL4348]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonEuropean Community law does not prohibit the nationalisation of Railtrack. The Treaty of Rome requires EC law to be neutral as between different forms of property ownership and it is left to member states to decide whether they provide public services themselves or entrust that provision to a third party.
There are no plans to renationalise Railtrack.
§ Lord Roberts of Conwyasked Her Majesty's Government:
90WAWhen the Financial Services Authority is expected to report on insider dealing in Railtrack shares; and whether the report will be published. [HL4317]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyIndividual investigations on insider dealing are an operational matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and it is for the FSA not the Government to comment on investigations.