§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safeguards he proposes to put in place to secure the independence in respect of policy making of the rail passenger committees. [125608]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 12 June 2000]The recently renamed Rail Passengers Committees will continue to have the freedom to express their independent views under the sponsorship of the Strategic Rail Authority as they currently do under the sponsorship of the Office of the Rail Regulator. Although the SRA will sponsor the636W RPCs, the Secretary of State will continue to appoint the Chairmen of the RPCs and the Chairman of the national Rail Passengers' Council.