§ Mr. HaselhurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his proposals for the privatisation of the British Railways Board's freight businesses.
§ Mr. MacGregorI have today published a document, "Rail Freight Privatisation—The Government's Proposals", which sets out the Government's plans to restructure British Rail's existing freight businesses for privatisation. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and in the Vote Office.
The key proposals are: to split British Rail's existing trainload businesses into three geographical companies for transfer to private sector ownership; to establish the channel tunnel freight business on a sound commercial footing with the aim of privatisation as soon as possible; to invite proposals from the private sector on the future of the Freightliner domestic and deep-sea container business; and to privatise Rail Express Systems, which carries Royal Mail letter traffic, as soon as practicable.
The combination of privatisation and open access to the railway network will promote the development of a rail freight industry which is efficient, competitive and responsive to customers' needs.