§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it remains his policy to franchise 51 per cent. of the rail passenger business by turnover by April 1996; and if he will list target dates for(a) invitations to tender, (b) submission of indicative bids, (c) short-listing of preferred bidders, (d) submission of definitive bidders, (e) completion of tender evaluation and (f) approval by Government, for each of the eight fast track franchises and for the west coast main line. [31898]
§ Mr. WattsThe Government have not changed their target. Invitations to tender in respect of Great Western, LTS Rail and South Wast Trains were issued on 17 May. Initial, non-binding bids are to be received by 28 July. Formal tenderers will be selected in September. The franchising director expects to award the first franchises in December. He will bring forward the remaining franchises as soon as they are ready. He aims to issue further invitations to tender later this year.