§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consult the franchising director in respect of Northstar Pennine Ltd.'s placement of an advertisement in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities of 8 January inviting tenders for rolling stock for use on the Regional Railways north-east network. [12126]
§ Mr. WattsNo. The franchising director has required all bidders for the Regional Railways north-east franchise to bring forward proposals for the replacement of the existing class 308 rolling stock. Decisions on when to request expressions of interest for rolling stock procurement are a matter for bidders and not the franchising director.