HC Deb 10 February 1997 vol 290 cc62-3W
23. Mr. McKelvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to encourage investment in the railway infrastructure. [13367]

Mr. Watts

Privatisation of Railtrack, the rail infrastructure provider, has freed rail investment from the constraints of public sector funding. Investment can now be planned and made in response to commercial need. Railtrack has every incentive to invest in the rail network because of the contractual matrix set up between it and the rail operators—including a challenging performance regime.

Railtrack is due to publish its network management statement shortly which will contain detailed plans of how Railtrack intends to spend money. Progress will be monitored closely by the Rail Regulator.