HC Deb 22 November 2001 vol 375 cc389-90W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason he rejected the advice of the SRA to grant a 20 year franchise to GNER. [R] [16032]

Mr. Jamieson

The SRA may only award a franchise to a person who has submitted a tender in response to an invitation to tender under section 26 of the Railways Act 1993 unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs. Such a direction is required if the SRA plans to replace a franchise before its expiry.

When considering whether to grant a direction, the Secretary of State has to decide whether the benefits offered outweigh the desirability of a franchise being subject to the tendering process under sections 26 to 26C.

The Secretary of State did not give a direction in relation to the Inter City East Coast franchise. He noted that better terms were more likely to be achieved nearer the expiry of the current franchise when the infrastructure upgrade for the East Coast Main Line would be better defined.

Forward to