HC Deb 07 February 2000 vol 344 c14W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the criteria by which the British Railways Board decides on the sale of land. [108465]

Mr. Hill

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 17 January 2000,Official Report, column 253W.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the assets for which the British Railways Board has responsibility. [108467]

Mr. Hill

Following privatisation of the railways, the British Railways Board remains responsible primarily for the British Transport Police, residual property and certain residual liabilities.

At 31 March 1999 tangible assets on the balance sheet totalled £32.0 million comprising buildings (£25.0 million), plant and equipment (£6.7 million) and investments (£0.3 million). Non-operational property totalling £103.6 million was held in current assets.

In addition, the Board remains responsible for some 5,000 isolated engineering structures such as bridges, viaducts and tunnels.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the contacts which his Department had with the British Railways Board over the last 12 months; and what was the content of each contact. [108466]

Mr. Hill

Ministers and officials in my Department have had numerous contacts with the British Railways Board (BRB) and the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SSRA) (of which the BRB now forms part) covering a range of issues including advice to Ministers.