§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Strategic Rail Authority will be established; and if he will make a statement. [148392]
§ Mr. HillThe Strategic Rail Authority was formally established as an executive non-departmental public body of my Department on 15 January 2001. Members of its Board were appointed on this day. The Authority will commence operation on 1 February when the main provisions of Part IV of the Transport Act 2000 come into force.
My Department has prepared a financial framework, in accordance with paragraph 16 of schedule 14 to the Transport Act, and a management statement for the Authority. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the House Library. These are working documents, which are likely to be amended as my Department's relationship with the Authority develops. If either document is revised significantly, a new version will be placed in the House Library. Copies of the latest version of both documents are available from my Department's Railways Sponsorship Division.