HC Deb 27 October 1999 vol 336 cc874-5W
Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers the Mayor for London will have to alter the terms of the proposed public-private partnership for London Underground Ltd. [95998]

Mr. Hill

The Mayor and Transport for London will take over PPP contracts designed to secure the efficient maintenance and improvement of the Tube network. These will be contractually binding, but they will have built into them flexibility for the Mayor to make adjustments over time, to deliver changing performance requirements. The Mayor, through Transport for London, will have the necessary controls to ensure that the Tube plays its full part in a properly integrated strategy for transport in London. Fares, ticketing, service levels and the operation of stations and trains will be the responsibility of the Mayor.

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has undertaken into the operation of public/private partnerships in other countries similar to that proposed for London Underground Ltd. [95997]

Mr. Hill

Public private partnership is an area in which the UK is leading the way. The London Underground PPP is a bespoke arrangement to cater expressly for the needs of our Underground.

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many extra District Line trains were run each day during the closure of the Circle Line service. [95994]

Mr. Hill

This is an operational matter for London Underground. However, I understand that two extra District Line trains ran each peak period during the closure of the Circle Line service. Demand in out-of-peak hours did not require the additional services.