§ Jeff EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will give a breakdown of the money granted to Railtrack from public funds since the Hatfield disaster. [7940]
§ Mr. JamiesonBetween 17 October 2000 and 1 October 2001, no public money was paid direct to Railtrack, but its profitability during that period was contingent on public money. For example, in 2000–01, some 85 per cent. of Railtrack's £2,476 million income was paid to it in access charges by train operating companies, which were paid £847 million in Support for Passenger Services (SPRS) by the Franchising Director and the Strategic Rail Authority.
On 1 October 2001, Railtrack was paid £337 million of network grant, in accordance with the terms of the company's 2 April agreement with the Government; and the company, or its successor body, will be paid 1171W £162 million of network grant in 2001–02 in respect of the (October 2000) final conclusions of the Rail Regulator's periodic review of access charges.