§ Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will give priority to upgrading of the west coast main line in his consideration of future major investment by British Rail;
(2) if he will make a statement on the criteria used for obtaining non-user benefit grants that may be available for the investment in infrastructure necessary for the upgrading of the west coast main line;
(3) if he will discuss with British Rail the necessary investment in the west coast main line being financed in partnership with the private sector.
§ Mr. FreemanIt is for British Rail to determine its investment priorities within available resources. I understand that it intends to commence work soon on renewing infrastructure on the west coast main line. The precise timing will be decided in the spring, when British Rail has completed its next corporate plan. A project of this size will take a number of years to complete.
281WUnder our privatisation proposals, responsibility for railway infrastructure will pass to Railtrack, a public sector track authority. Infrastructure investment will be financed largely from charges to operators, but, as stated in the White Paper "New Opportunities For The Railways", the Government may provide direct support for investment schemes not earning an adequate financial return but which have satisfactory cost-benefit returns when wider social and economic benefits are taken into account.
Our proposals will also encourage greater private sector participation in financing railway investment, both in infrastructure and rolling stock. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement.