§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when Network Rail's business plan will be published. [55784]
§ Mr. JamiesonThis is a matter for Network Rail.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if EU state aid rules allow the Government(a) to provide initial financial support to Network Rail and (b) to provide subsequent, additional aid through the standby facilities from the Strategic Rail Authority; [55711]
(2) what rights exist under EU law to permit the Government to provide state aid to Network Rail to acquire the assets of Railtrack. [55773]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government will make sure that any state aid provided to Network Rail, if it is successful in its bid to acquire Railtrack plc, is fully compatible with the EC Treaty, bearing in mind the rescue and restructuring guidelines and also articles 73 and 86(2) of the Treaty. That is equally true of any initial financial support and any standby facilities.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the Strategic Rail Authority expects Network Rail's business plan to require an interim review. [55783]
§ Mr. JamiesonAny decision to apply to the rail regulator for an interim review would he a matter for Network Rail, if the company succeeds in its bid to acquire Railtrack plc and becomes network operator.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions through what mechanisms Network Rail's management will be held to account for their performance. [55781]
§ Mr. JamiesonIn common with other companies, Network Rail's management would be responsible to the company's board and also to the membership. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear when he outlined the structure of a possible company limited by guarantee, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 23 October 2001,Official Report, columns 195W–97W, management would need to be properly incentivised to deliver a quality rail network. Discussions are continuing on the company's incentive 677W proposals. Finally, if Network Rail succeeds in its bid to become network operator, the company would, like Railtrack, be subject to the regulatory system.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) which members of Network Rail's management team have previous management experience in the heavy rail industry; and if he will make a statement; [55782]
(2) how many salaried employees Network Rail has; [55777]
(3) who will be responsible for the recruitment of board members to Network Rail; [55774]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe details of its proposals are a matter for Network Rail.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has received from the Office of National Statistics about the status of debt raised by Network Rail. [55776]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe ONS took a preliminary view in October 2001 that the proposed company limited by guarantee described to them at that time would not be classified within the public sector. The ONS will take a view upon the Network Rail proposals once negotiations are completed.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who took the decision to recruit each of the directors of Network Rail; and if he will list the directors. [55775]
§ Mr. JamiesonWhen Network Rail was launched on 25 March 2002, the company announced that three non-executive directors—Ian McAllister, Adrian Montague and lain Coucher—had been appointed. These appointments were made on the initiative of the CLG bid team. Further appointments are a matter for Network Rail. Appointments to the CLG bid team were covered in my reply to the hon. Member on 12 February 2002,Official Report, column 213W.