§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to ensure that the majority of shares in Railtrack remain in the ownership of United Kingdom-based investors. [38532]
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to remove Railtracks's operating licence. [38534]
§ Mr. WattsThe terms as to revocation of Railtrack's network and station operating licences are contained in the schedule to those licences. The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the regulator, and in the case of the network licence, the franchising director, revoke the licences on three months notice in certain circumstances including
by agreement with Railtack; ornon-compliance by Railtrack within three months with an enforcement order in respect of a contravention or apprehended contravention of a licence condition; or12Wa person obtaining control of Railtrack which the Secretary of State has not approved and the Secretary of State serves notice of revocation unless that person ceases to have control and the required cessation does not take place; orin the case of the network licence only, cessation of licensed activities for a continuous period of one year.The Secretary of State may also, after consultation with the regulator and, in the case of the network licence, the franchising director, revoke the licences forthwith if Railtrack commits a serious breach of the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the shares of Railtrack are currently owned by investors based outside the United Kingdom. [38533]