Mr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made so far with the Government's proposals for the privatisation of sections of British Rail, including Sealink, in view of the statement in the British Rail corporate plan that it was intended to transfer Sealink into the private sector by the end of the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe British Railways Board is in the lead in implementing the privatisation policy. It has so far privatised a number of subsidiary activities including the hotels business and more than £130 million of property. I hope that the Board will be in a position to make an announcement within the next month or so of its plans for the sale of Sealink. We have also asked it to obtain more supply and support services from the private sector, and to make proposals for involving private sector finance in the development of stations and railway services.