§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the Government now intend to make subsidies available to any InterCity services which might otherwise be jeopardised as a result of impending privatisation; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what steps he intends taking in the run-up to privatisation of the InterCity services of British Rail; if he will ensure that these branches of the intercity network which do not make a profit, are not run down by British Rail, or transferred to provincial services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanNo decision has yet been taken on the structure of a privatised British Rail. Detailed questions about transfers of services between parts of BR, or about the subsidy regime for particular services, must await that decision.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with his Irish counterparts concerning the implications for rail services between London and Holyhead arising from the Government's plans to privatise railway services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanMy right hon. and learned Friend has had no discussions about the implications of privatisation for London-Holyhead rail services. He has had recent correspondence with his Irish counterpart about the Crewe-Holyhead line, in the context of channel tunnel services and the European Commission's proposals for a high-speed rail network.