§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
With what regularity Ministers at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions have had meetings and communicated with the financial institutions involved in financing the proposed public private partnership deal for the London Underground; and when prior to 14 November was the last time that any such meetings or communications took place. [HL1618]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonMinisters from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions have had occasional meetings with representatives of bidders for the modernisation of London Underground. My right honourable friends the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Minister for Transport most recently met representatives of each preferred bidder and their financial supporters in October and November.
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any of the financial institutions involved in financing the proposed public private partnership deal for the London Underground expressed reservations to Ministers at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions about their continued involvement in the period from 7 October to 14 November; and, if so, what was the substance of such reservations. [HL1619]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonMy right honourable friends the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Minister for Transport most recently met representatives of each preferred bidder and their financial supporters during the specified period. They reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the use of private finance for transport infrastructure projects and, in particular, for the Tube modernisation plans.
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
When Ministers at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions became aware 126WA of the concerns recently expressed by Land Securities as to its continued involvement in the proposed public private partnership deal for the London Underground. [HL1620]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonLand Securities Trillium is one of the bidders for the London Underground property partnership. The conduct of the competition is a matter for London Regional Transport and London Underground Limited.
§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are confident that potential bidders for the proposed public private partnership deal for the London Underground will be able to make sense of the 135 volumes and 2,800 pages which to date comprise the contracts for it. [HL1621]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe preferred bidders have had detailed negotiations with London Underground about the contracts for the modernisation of the Tube. The Government are satisfied that the contracts make sense and are comprehensible to both London Underground and the bidders.