§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he informed the Strategic Rail Authority of his Department's discussions with(a) passenger rail franchisees and (b) train operating companies to take over responsibility for operating and maintaining railway infrastructure in the areas where they run train services. [9831]
§ Mr. SpellarOfficials have had meetings on such matters with train operators' representatives or their advisers at their request. These have not resulted in any changes in policy about which the Strategic Rail Authority needed to be informed.