§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the number of private national railways operated in different parts of the world and moves being made by national Governments to privatise existing state-owned railway networks; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloI am aware of privately owned railways in the United States of America and Canada, and of the privatisation process in Japan. These and other relevant international comparisons will be taken into account in our consideration of the case for privatising British Rail.