Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 7 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 June 2000. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 June 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what safeguards he proposes to put in place to secure the independence in respect of policy making of the rail passenger committees. - (Holding answer 12 June 2000).

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safeguards he proposes to put in place to secure the independence in respect of policy making of the rail passenger committees. [125608] Mr. Hill: [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The recently renamed Rail Passengers Committees will continue to have the freedom to express their independent views under the sponsorship of the Strategic Rail Authority as they currently do under the sponsorship of the Office of the Rail Regulator. Although the SRA will sponsor the RPCs, the Secretary of State will continue to appoint the Chairmen of the RPCs and the Chairman of the national Rail Passengers' Council.

Secondary information