Written question asked by David Kidney (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 April 2001. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Thursday, 26 April 2001 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 assessment he has made of the impact of the change in the level of public subsidy on rail fares.

Answer: Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the change in the level of public subsidy on rail fares. [158418] Mr. Hill: No explicit assessment has been made. Subsidy levels were agreed at the time of franchising after a competitive bidding process. Franchising agreements protect key rail fares so that their prices are restricted by a cap that rises by PRI-1 per cent. annually. The key fares include all Saver tickets, or unrestricted standard returns where no Saver exists, and all standard weekly season tickets. Further regulation applies to London commuter fares, linking performance to the permitted increase.

Secondary information