HC Deb 06 March 2002 vol 381 cc369-70W
Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects Railtrack to complete its asset register. [37243]

Mr. Jamieson

In April 2001 the Rail Regulator amended Railtrack's network licence to require the company to create a complete and accurate register of the condition, capacity and capability of its assets. Railtrack is required to produce regular plans detailing how the company expects to ensure it has access to and knowledge of its assets. The next set of plans is due to be submitted to the regulator in April 2002, covering development of the register over the next two years.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2002,Official Report, column 376W, on Railtrack, how much public lending is being made available to remunerate these professional advisers. [39418]

Mr. Jamieson

No public lending is being made available.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 783W, on Railtrack, if he will provide an updated schedule of the financial support given to the Railtrack administrator. [39424]

Mr. Jamieson

Approximately £1.8 billion has been made available under the commercial loan agreement.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2002,Official Report, column 1188W, on Railtrack, what assessment of those examples of companies limited by guarantee listed was carried out by his Department; and if he will place all related documentation in the Library. [40269]

Mr. Jamieson: The outline proposal for a company limited by guarantee (CLG) as a possible successor to Railtrack was developed with regard to the model used for Glas Cymru and a variety of other organisations. No assessment of these organisations was carried out because the model needed to be developed to apply to the particular circumstances of the rail network operator, as outlined in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 23 October 2001, Official Report, columns 195–97W.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 783W, from which budgets or revenue sources additional finance could be granted to Railtrack in an interim review. [40290]

Mr. Jamieson: Neither the outcome of any interim review nor the appropriate budget sources can be anticipated in advance.