§ 23. Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport for how many years a subsidy for socially necessary rail lines can be guaranteed under current Treasury rules; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanIt will be for the franchising director to negotiate contracts with franchisees, and to make such subsidy payments as are specified in those contracts from within his budget. In doing so he will be in no different a position from any other public sector body in entering into contracts which may run beyond the normal annual period for which Parliament votes expenditure.