HC Deb 28 January 2002 vol 379 c52W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will protect former railway routes for future railway use. [28735]

Mr. Jamieson

The Strategic Rail Authority retains land with a realistic prospect of rail or other transport use in the foreseeable future, or sells it to the rail industry, local authorities or others, for those purposes. Under a new licence condition that came into effect on 15 November 2001, Railtrack plc must now seek the Rail Regulator's specific consent in important cases of disposal of land that may be required for future railway use.