HC Deb 03 July 2002 vol 388 c357W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the EU Public Service Requirements Regulation; and if he will make a statement. [66315]

Mr. Jamieson

In July 2000 the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation concerning public service requirements and the award of public service contracts in passenger transport by rail, road and inland waterway. An amended proposal was published in February 2002. This proposal is intended to stimulate more efficient and attractive public transport through the use of regulated competition and other measures and to promote legal certainty for authorities and operators.

There have been discussions at, and progress reports to, the Transport Council on several occasions, but neither I nor other departmental Ministers have had specific discussions with the European Commission regarding this proposal.