§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date Sir Christopher Foster was appointed as an adviser to his Department; on what date his employment as an adviser was completed; how much he was paid in total for his work as an adviser to his Department; on what date he was invited to apply for the post of board member of Railtrack; on what date he was appointed a board member of Railtrack; who was responsible for(a) recruiting, (b) interviewing and (c) appointing Sir Christopher Foster as a board member of Railtrack; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanSir Christopher Foster was appointed as special adviser to the Secretary of State from 1 June 1992. He was seconded to the Department from Coopers and Lybrand: the Department reimbursed Coopers and Lybrand at the rate of £5,000 per year, amounting to a total 167W of £7,321.43 plus VAT for the period until his resignation on 16 November 1993. On that date, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that Sir Christopher would be appointed as a non-executive member of the Railtrack board on its incorporation as a British Rail subsidiary company in February 1994. His appointment from 1 April 1994 as a director of Railtrack Group plc as a Government-owned company, was approved by shareholders' decision given by the Secretary of State.