HC Deb 16 February 1995 vol 254 c781W
Mr. Peter Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the studies which have been conducted into the re-organisation of the transport companies in Northern Ireland including Northern Ireland Railways, Ulsterbus and Citybus; and when a report is due to be published.

Mr. Moss

My Department commissioned a study into the scope for introducing a private element into the management and operation of Northern Ireland Railways and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 11 January,Official Report, column 146. In addition, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company commissioned a study into the potential for the co-ordination of bus and rail services in Northern Ireland and any necessary restructuring required for this to be achieved.

Following consideration of a report of that study, and of the study into Northern Ireland Railways, I announced in Belfast on 17 January 1995 plans for co-ordinating bus and rail services; restructuring the boards of Northern Ireland Railways, Ulsterbus and Citybus on the basis of common membership; unifying the senior management structure of these companies; and selling their non-core services and applying market tests and contracting out where appropriate. There are no plans to publish reports of either study.