§ 16. Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has met the Director General of the Association of Train Operating Companies to discuss the future of the railways. [124005]
§ Mr. HillI last met the Director General of ATOC on 1 November 1999 when among other topics, we discussed the Transport Bill, railway performance and railway safety. Officials from my Department have met with ATOC to discuss train operator's concerns about station leases, and to explore the extent to which the existing regulatory provision can safeguard against the public interest.