§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what conclusions he has reached on the findings of the study carried out on the scope for introducing a private element into the management and operation of Northern Ireland Railways; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MossThis study was commissioned as a result of a commitment given in the citizens charter for Northern Ireland. The consultants' preferred option for introducing a private element into Northern Ireland Railways was the establishment of a single vertically integrated franchise for passenger and infrastructure operations. The consultants advised, however, that any franchising programme in Northern Ireland should follow rather than lead franchising in Great Britain. The consultants also made recommendations concerning the sale of non-core businesses, such as freight and travel agency operations, and the market testing of other activities.
In view of the consultants' reservations about timing, and bearing in mind that railways services in Northern Ireland are on a relatively small scale compared to those in Great Britain, I have decided to defer a decision on the franchising of railway services for the time being. I would propose, however, to implement the consultants' proposals about the sale of NIR's non-core businesses and the market testing of other activities. I have also asked NIR to examine the scope for involving private sector finance in their capital programme.