§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of Jo Moore in the decision to apply for an administration order under section 59 of the Railways Act 1993. [8187]
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has appointed headhunters to advise on future appointments to the successor body to Railtrack. [8919]
§ Mr. JamiesonNo.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what contacts he has authorised between his special advisers and the media since 7 June in relation to Railtrack.[9189]
§ Mr. ByersSpecial advisers contact the media as necessary on issues across the range of the Department's responsibilities.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what new proposals he intends to make for the operation of the(a) Strategic Rail Authority and (b) Rail Regulator following the decision to place the subsidiary of Railtrack into administration.[8490]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 18 October 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 954.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings he held with Ernst and Young to discuss whether Railtrack plc should be put into administration; and when these meetings were held.[8186]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 18 October 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions held no such meetings.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much financial support will be made available to the successor company to Railtrack; and how much the Government expected to pay to Railtrack in 2000–01 and 2001–02 for similar purposes.[8195]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government have proposed a private sector company limited by guarantee to succeed Railtrack and intend to agree a transfer scheme with the railway administrators.
94WIn 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 £1,130 million in revenue support grants from the Strategic Rail Authority and Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs). In 2001–02 Railtrack continued to receive indirect support via track access charges. In addition, on 1 October it received £337 million in direct grant payment from the SRA, and will receive a further £162 million in direct grant when requested by the administrators.
The direct network grant payments over the next five years, as determined by the Rail Regulator's October 2000 Periodic Review and the 2 April agreement between Government and Railtrack, will be transferred to Railtrack's successor body on emergence from administration.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on how the successor company to Railtrack will be accountable to(a) him and (b) other Government agencies.[8184]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government's proposal is for the successor company to be a private sector company limited by guarantee. Such a company would not be accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much capital will be made available to the successor company to Railtrack to enable it to acquire Railtrack's assets from the administrators.[8194]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 18 October 2001]: The Government have proposed a private sector company limited by guarantee to succeed Railtrack and intend to agree a transfer scheme with the railway administrators. We plan to structure this new company so that it would achieve at least a BBB investment grade credit rating.