§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will ensure that, where a new franchise is awarded by the Strategic Rail Authority, the performance standards in the new franchise agreement are applied during the unexpired period of the old franchise agreement; [129687]
(2) what powers the Strategic Rail Authority has to ensure a smooth and rapid transfer when it awards a new franchise to a company different from the one currently providing the service and the existing company decides to continue until its contract expires. [129705]
§ Mr. HillThis would be a matter for negotiation between the Franchising Director and the existing and potential franchisees. In the event of failure to agree transfer arrangements in advance of expiry of the existing franchise, the existing franchisee would be obliged to continue to honour its contractual commitments.