§ Martin Linton:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the outcome of discussions between the train operating industry and the Strategic Rail Authority to develop a national discount railcard. [141309]
§ Mr. McNulty:Following the Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA) Fares Review, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport asked the SRA to explore options for the introduction of a well-targeted National Railcard. The SRA is in discussion with the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) about the best way of taking this forward.
§ Martin Linton:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the effect on sales of Network Railcards of limiting their application to journeys costing more than £10 in the South East; [141329]
(2) what estimate he has made of the proportion of leisure journeys made in the South East between June 2002 and June 2003 which (a) cost less than £10 and (b) did not attract Network Railcard discounts. [141330]
§ Mr. McNulty:The South East Network card is a commercial "product" and as such is not subject to Government regulation. It's conditions of issue and use are matters for the train operating companies. Information on its use is not held centrally.