§ Mr. CongdonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Croydon Tramlink. [39614]
§ Mr. NorrisI am glad to report that I have authorised London Transport to finalise and then sign the concession agreement for Croydon Tramlink. This will mean that Tramtrack Croydon Ltd. will be able to build and operate the new system, which should open in the year 2000. The148W about their recruitment and the use of permitted exceptions to the principles of fair and open competition and selection on merit.
The Central Transport Group is in the process of revising its systems for recruitment in the light of recent guidance laid down by the civil service commissioners, to ensure that recruitment is carried out on the basis of fair and open competition and selection on merit, and to make provision for internal audit.
The number of staff appointed to CTG in 1995 are shown in the table. There were no permitted exceptions to fair and open competition and selection on merit in 1995.
total central Government grant involved will be £125 million. Tramtrack Croydon Ltd. will also be making a significant financial contribution.
Croydon Tramlink will bring important benefits to public transport users in south London. It is an excellent example of how the Government's private finance initiative makes it possible to build projects which would not have been afforded if all the money had had to come from the taxpayer. I am delighted that, after careful negotiation, it has been possible to reach agreement between public and private sectors to take forward this worthwhile public transport scheme.