HC Deb 22 July 1996 vol 282 cc13-4W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the percentage of existing timetables which have been guaranteed in each of the passenger service requirements and draft passenger service requirements so far published by Opraf. [38526]

Mr. Watts

No. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Moreover, a percentage for each passenger service requirement—PSR—would be an average and thus not reflect the basis on which PSRs are prepared. When drawing up PSRs, the franchising director is required by his instructions and guidance from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to consider each service individually and not services for the franchise as a whole. The differing characteristics of the many services operated under each franchise are thus reflected in the individual specifications include din PSRs.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions he has given to Opraf to ensure that franchise operators provide services which connect with one another. [38527]

Mr. Watts

The franchising director is required by his instructions and guidance from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to encourage co-operation between operators to preserve and promote arrangements which facilitate the making of journeys which involve the use of services provided by more than one operator. In line with this, each franchise agreement includes provisions requiring operations to co-operate in the development of timetables so as to secure the provision of reasonable connections between services. In addition, the franchising director may specify connections in passenger service requirements where he believes these are of particular importance.