§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to the provision of rail sleeper services between London and Scotland; and if he will make it his policy that existing services will be guaranteed for the foreseeable future.
§ Mr. WattsThe provision of sleeper services between London and Scotland is at present a matter for British Rail. In future it will be for the operator to decide on the level of such services in the light of the minimum service specification set by the franchising director. The objectives, instructions and guidance given to him by the Secretary of State made it clear that for the initial letting of franchises minimum service specifications should be based on the level of services being provided by British Rail immediately prior to franchising, taking into account the existence of and justification for seasonal variations in service schedules.