§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by and and for his Department of the performance of(a) the Commission for Integrated Transport and (b) Rail Passengers' Committees including performance targets; what reports have been published on their performance; and if he will place copies of such reports not readily available in the Library. [76207]
§ Mr. Jamieson(a) There is a requirement for all Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) to be reviewed quinquennially. The Commission for Integrated Transport's first quinquennial review will take place in 2004. There is no requirement to carry out any additional performance reviews of the Commission, as they are only an Advisory NDPB. The Commission does however publish annual reports that give details of their performance; copies of their first 3 annual reports have been placed in the House Libraries.
(b) The work of Rail Passengers Committees are co-ordinated by the Rail Passengers Council. The Council and Committees are the statutory watchdog protecting and promoting the interests of rail passengers. Their statutory duties are set out in sections 76 and 77 of the Railways Act 1993, as amended by the Transport Act 2000. Sponsorship and external assessment of the work of the Council and Committees are matters for the Strategic Rail Authority.
The Council is finalising a new mission statement and long-term goals for it and the Committees and will be consulting on them later in the year.
The Council and Committees mission statements and aims are set out in their annual reports. Copies of the annual reports for the Council and the Committees for Scotland and Wales are available in the House Libraries, as required by legislation. I will arrange for the annual reports of the remaining committees to henceforth also be made available through the House Libraries.
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