HC Deb 12 November 1992 vol 213 cc962-3W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies that have expressed an interest in his rail privatisation proposals; and if he will make a statement on the extent of private sector interest in his proposals.

Mr. Freeman

Before the issue of the consultation document on 12 October we had received expressions of interest about running franchised passenger railway services from around 50 companies. These approaches and subsequent ones arising from the consultation document are being treated as confidential. It would be inappropriate for me to list the companies or indicate the extent of their specific interests at this stage.