HL Deb 22 February 1999 vol 597 cc104-5WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will publish the review by the British Railways Board of its land holdings, sent to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions last year. [HL984]

Lord Whitty

The Government are still considering the British Railways Board's report of the review. Before taking a decision on the generality of BR's property portfolio, we intend to await the appointment of the new Chairman of BR, so that his/her views are taken into account. This appointment is expected to be made shortly.

In the meantime, we have agreed that the BR Board may proceed with a limited number of sales in two categories. The first is where there are buyers for transport purposes. The second is where development proposals and the sales process had reached an advanced stage when the review was announced, or where planning permission had already been granted for a non-transport purpose, and for which completion has become a matter of urgency.