§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those organisations consulted by his Department prior to the agreement of a grant to Network Rail for bringing Railtrack out of administration early. [49791]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 15 April 2002]: Discussions took place with HM Treasury and the SRA before the Department indicated to Network Rail that it was willing to offer a grant payment to reflect the public benefits of an earlier exit from administration than would otherwise be the case.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is on the sale of railway assets by the company that succeeds Railtrack. [49840]
§ Mr. JamiesonThis a matter for the Rail Regulator, who set out his policy in chapter 12 of the October 2000 Periodic Review and condition 26 of Railtrack's network licence.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what provision exists in European law for the extension of state aid support to Railtrack in administration beyond 7 October; [49864]
(2) what factors underlay the comments made by his Department to Bloomberg on 22 March about state aid rules relating to Railtrack; [49866]
(3) what advice his Department has received about state aid rules relating to support for Railtrack beyond 7 October. [49865]
§ Mr. JamiesonIf the Network Rail bid were to be successful, any state aid provided to the company would be notified as permanent financial support that would bring the administration of Railtrack plc to a close. But if administration were to continue, state aid clearance would be sought as necessary as an extension of the existing clearance or as a separate notification if more appropriate.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2002,Official Report, column 956W, if he has set aside contingency funds to cover an unexpectedly high periodic review. [49814]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe regulator has a statutory duty under section 4 of the Railways Act 1993, as amended by section 224 of the Transport Act 2000, to have regard to the SRA's budget when undertaking a review. The Government would consider any appropriate budgetary adjustments as and when any such review takes place.