§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of public accountability for the railway system. [18799]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonWe are committed to establishing more effective and accountable regulation of the railways to ensure that the system is run in the public interest. As a first step towards improving public accountability, we have introduced new Objectives, Instructions and Guidance for the Franchising Director and a concordat with the Rail Regulator, designed to strengthen railways regulation. We are also conducting a wide ranging review which will look at all aspects of the rail industry, including the shortcomings of the sanctions already available to the regulators.