§ 35. Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the regulatory bodies in respect of the level of rail fares. [43263]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMinisters meet with the Franchising Director on a regular basis and with the Rail Regulator from time to time to discuss a range of railways issues. The regulation of fares is a statutory responsibility of the Franchising Director. He has prescribed that annual increases in the price of key fares rise by no more than increases in the Retail Prices Index (RPI) based on June 1995 fare levels. From January 1999, these fares will be pegged to one per cent below the increase in the RPI.