§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority on publication of its annual strategic plan; [149037]
(2) how many drafts of the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan for 2004 have been (a) received and (b) commented on by his Department; [149038]
(3) what powers he has to determine the date of publications issued by the Strategic Rail Authority; [149039]
(4) under what authority he is able to determine the date of publication by the Strategic Rail Authority of its strategic plan; [149040]
(5) when (a) he and (b) his officials first received a draft of the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan for 2004. [149041]
§ Mr. DarlingThe Government and the Strategic Rail Authority have agreed that it is not appropriate to publish a Strategic Plan in advance of the review now taking place of Government expenditure. I have the power to determine the date of any publication by the Strategic Rail Authority by issuing a direction, as prescribed under sections 206(3), 207(5) and 209(5) of the Transport Act 2000. My officials saw one draft of the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan, which they received on 16 December 2003, but made no comment on its content. No ministers saw the draft, nor was its existence drawn to their attention.