§ Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether rail franchises are subject to European Union public procurement rules. [HL3379]
§ Lord Davies of Oldham:Rail franchises in the United Kingdom are not subject to European Union Public Services Contracts Regulations 1993 because they are concessions which are expressly excluded from these regulations. They are, however, subject to the main principles of the European treaty of nondiscrimination based on nationality (i.e. equality of treatment), transparency and mutual recognition.