§ Kali MountfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision he is making for the cost of rail services secured by English passenger transport executives in 2000–01. [116034]
§ Mr. HillA special grant report has been laid before the House today for the payment of Metropolitan Railway Passenger Services Grant in 2000–01 to English Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs). The main purpose of the grant is to provide support to those PTAs for the local rail services provided by franchise operators and secured by the PTAs' Passenger Transport Executives under the terms of franchise agreements with franchisees and the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising.