§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation he will give to the residents of Nottinghamshire in respect of their contributions to the cost of the Robin Hood line. [1613]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Government have contributed over £6.5 million to stages 1 and 2 of the Robin Hood line; the balance was funded by the European regional development fund and the local authorities concerned. We are discussing with Nottinghamshire county council the case for making a further Government contribution towards the capital cost of the scheme.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he is planning to privatise the Robin Hood line. [1624]
§ Mr. NorrisServices on the Robin Hood line have been designated as experimental services and are currently being operated by Central Trains Ltd. under an agreement with Nottinghamshire county council. The operating agreement would pass to a future franchisee. The franchising director aims to offer Central to the private sector during or after 1996. The inclusion of the Robin Hood line services in the passenger service requirement for the franchise will be considered by the franchising director before the expiry of the five-year experimental period.