HC Deb 11 January 1994 vol 235 cc135-6W
Ms Quin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has given to OPRAF on rail closures under privatisation.

Mr. Freeman

The franchising director's role in closure cases is set out in sections 37 to 50 of the Railways Act 1993. We have not issued any guidance on closures to the franchising director.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the total net cost to public funds of rail privatisation so far.

Mr. Freeman

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 13 December 1993 at column466. At this stage there are no savings or benefits to net off the total expenditure fugure.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much of the consultancy costs for railway privatisation were spent on lawyers' fees in 1991–92 and 1992–93; and how much of the expected expenditure is expected to go to lawyers in 1993–94;

(2) if he will give a detailed breakdown of his Department's expenditure on consultancy costs for rail privatisation.

Mr. Freeman

The breakdown of the Department's expenditure and estimated expenditure on consultancy costs for rail privatisation for 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 is as follows:

£ million
Financial year
1991–92 1992–93 11993–94
Legal issues 0.0 1.6 4.0
Merchant banking 0.1 0.3 2.0
Accountancy and actuarial 0.0 1.7 2.3
Access and access charges 0.4 1.1 0.9
Property matters 0.0 0.1 0.3
Marketing 0.0 0.0 0.9
Freight and franchising 0.0 0.6 0.7
Information systems 0.0 0.0 0.7
Insurance 0.0 0.0 0.1
Research 0.0 0.0 0.1
Recruitment 0.0 0.1 0.0
1 Estimate.

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