HC Deb 02 July 2001 vol 371 c13W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the Strategic Rail Authority to(a) begin the next stage of the competition for the new Wales and Borders franchise and (b) recommence the competition for the Central Trains franchise. [1027]

Mr. Spellar

Further announcements will be made by the Strategic Rail Authority in due course.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many additional employees have been recruited by the Strategic Rail Authority during the past year. [1014]

Mr. Spellar

On 1 June 2000, 261 people were working at the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (sSRA), which comprised the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and British Railways Board staff.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) was set up on 1 February 2001 under the provisions of the Transport Act 2000, with 330 staff. This included 259 from the sSRA and, to cover additional functions transferred on that date, 70 from the Office of the Rail Regulator (including those working for Rail Passengers Committees) and one from the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The SRA also took responsibility for the 2,297 British Transport Police.

On 1 June 2001, 362 people were working at the SRA.