§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which advisers were present at the meeting convened by his Department on 13 September to discuss Railtrack. [18223]
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how much money the administrator of Railtrack has said will be required for renewals, maintenance and operating expenses for Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006; [18945]
(2) how much was the Railtrack administrator's most recent estimate of the network's infrastructure investment needs in Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006; [18957]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe administrator is currently reviewing Railtrack's expenditure needs.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many contracts for(a) lawyers, (b) accountants, and (c) consultants have been 783W (i) let and (ii) advertised since 5 October on matters related to (A) Railtrack and (B) railway policy by (1) his Department, (2) the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) and (3) Railtrack in Administration. [19429]
§ Mr. SpellarMy Department is in the process of letting three contracts since 5 October, to provide financial, legal and technical advice to the team being assembled to develop proposals for a company limited by guarantee. The SRA let or advertised none. Railtrack's contracts are a matter for them.
§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the Railtrack pension fund was in surplus or deficit and by how much immediately prior to Railtrack administration. [20090]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Railtrack Shared Cost Section is a section of the Railways Pension Scheme. The most recent valuation for funding purposes was carried out by the actuary as at 31 December 1998. The results of the valuation showed that at 31 December 1998 the actuarial value of the assets of the Railtrack section was £867.2 million, liabilities and reserves totalled £804.3 million, leaving a surplus of £62.9 million. The funding level of the Railtrack section was 108 per cent. After a package of benefit improvements the section funding was 102 per cent. The next valuation is due as at 31 December 2001, with the results expected at the end of 2002.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the morale of Railtrack employees. [20749]
§ Mr. JamiesonThere are many dedicated, efficient and effective people at Railtrack committed to the rail network. Both we and the Administrator attach great importance to maintaining staff morale. We support the work being done by the Administrator with Railtrack's management to achieve this.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what representations he has received from(a) individuals, (b) non-governmental organisations and (c) companies regarding the feasibility of Railtrack plc operating as a company limited by guarantee (i) prior to and (ii) after Railtrack plc was placed into administration; and if he will place copies of the documentation in the Library; [21042]
(2) what assessments have been conducted (a) by his Department, (b) by other Departments and (c) by other organisations for his Department to study the feasibility of Railtrack plc operating as a company limited by guarantee (i) prior to and (ii) after Railtrack plc was placed into administration; and if he will place copies of the documentation in the Library; [21041]
(3) if he will list the documents on which he consulted (a) prior to and (b) after Railtrack plc was placed into administration when considering which alternative model for Railtrack plc to put forward to the Railway Administrator; and if he will place the documents in the Library. [21043]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe outline of a proposal for a company limited by guarantee (CLG) has been developed by Government and their advisers. The proposal is784W soundly based and reflects lessons learned as a result of the failures of the existing regime. The CLG model is tried and tested elsewhere. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not consulted on the CLG proposal either prior to or since Railtrack plc was placed into administration. It will be for the CLG bid team, currently being established under the leadership of Ian McAllister, to develop a robust proposal and to consult as it sees fit. The views of rail industry stakeholders and others will be important in developing the bid.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the(a) length and (b) proportion of track not meeting the minimum required standard for each month between January 2000 and November 2001 (i) in total,(ii) subdivided by zonal area and (iii) subdivided by train operating company area. [21037]
§ Mr. JamiesonRailtrack advise that they do not hold information to this level of detail.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had regarding the possible safety implications of(a) the Administration and (b) a possible successor organisation to Railtrack with (i) the Health and Safety Executive, (ii) the Health and Safety Commission, (iii) HMRI, (iv) Lord Cullen and (v) others. [21031]
§ Mr. JamiesonMy Department and the Administrators have consulted fully with the Health and Safety Executive on all safety matters.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what requests he has received for funding additional to those detailed in section 2 of the commercial loan agreement with the Railtrack administrator, as provided for in those clauses. [21481]
§ Mr. JamiesonNo additional monies have been requested beyond the initial amount of the loan agreement.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what benchmarks are used to assess budget variations in section 8.1.6(a) of the commercial loan agreement with the Railtrack administrator. [21485]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe management accounts required under section 8.1.6(a) of the commercial loan agreement, are prepared by Railtrack plc and represent actual results. These are compared to the budgeted results for the same period. Railtrack plc provides a commentary explaining the major variances between the budget and actual results.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what management accounts have been supplied by the Railtrack administrator under section 8.1.6(a) of the commercial loan agreement. [21487]
§ Mr. JamiesonTwo sets of management accounts have been received.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what financial forecasts have been made by the Railtrack administrator under the terms of section 8.1.6(f) of the commercial loan agreement. [21484]
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§ Mr. JamiesonThere is no such requirement on the administrator.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what rate of interest is being received by the Government under section 4.2 of the commercial loan agreement with the Railtrack administrator. [21479]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe rate of interest will be calculated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 4.2 of the loan agreement and will be paid to him, and at a date determined by him, in accordance with the said agreement.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money has been made available as(a) cash, (b) loan and (c) guarantee to Railtrack in administration. [22117]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 10 December 2001]: £1,222,734,244 under the trust facility outlined in sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the commercial loan agreement.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action has been taken to ensure high safety standards by Railtrack in administration. [22122]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 10 December 2001]: The Health and Safety Executive is working closely with both Railtrack plc and the administrator to ensure that safety in the railways is maintained. The administrator has recruited the HSE's former Deputy Chief Inspector of Railways to ensure technical issues are properly considered.
On 8 October, the HSE issued a formal Direction to Railtrack plc, as holders of an accepted railway safety case, to prepare and submit a revision to the safety case in the light of the changed organisational and administrative arrangements. The HSE also summarised for Railtrack plc, and brought to the attention of the administrator, the key continuing responsibilities of Railtrack plc's management under its safety case. HSE recently confirmed acceptance of Railtrack's revised safety case.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what reports he receives from Railtrack in administration concerning(a) finance and (b) safety; and how often he receives reports. [22121]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 10 December 2001]: To date the Secretary of State has received nine weekly reports and two four-weekly management reports. Safety regulation is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many miles of track are subject to speed restrictions pending repair or renewal; and how many speed restrictions are in place on the network. [22120]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 10 December 2001]: Railtrack reports that the number of temporary speed restrictions in place across its network in Great Britain as at Monday 3 December 2001 were 650.315 miles of track subject to speed restrictions pending repair or renewal.
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