§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with interested parties regarding the Government's plans for the franchising of passenger rail services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Department is considering responses to the consultation document issued on 12 October, and will be having discussions with some of those respondents. I shall be visiting Scotland next month as part of my national programme of presentations on our proposals for privatising British Rail.