Written question asked by Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 14 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 November 2004. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 November 2004 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when decisions will be made on the awarding of the (a) East Coast Mainline and (b) Integrated Kent Franchises; and whether these decisions will be made by the (i) Strategic Rail Authority and (ii) Department for Transport. - Inc ref to "The Future of Rail".

Answer: John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when decisions will be made on the awarding of the (a) East Coast Mainline and (b) Integrated Kent Franchises; and whether these decisions will be made by the (i) Strategic Rail Authority and (ii) Department for Transport. [192601] Mr. McNulty: The information is as follows: (a) On 6 October the SRA issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the new InterCity East Coast franchise inviting the four pre-qualified companies to submit detailed bids. An announcement on a Preferred Bidder will be made early next year, (b) Invitations to tender for the Integrated Kent Franchise will be issued to the four pre-qualifying bidders later in the autumn. The franchise is expected to commence in late 2005. Decisions on new or replacement franchises are currently taken by the Strategic Rail Authority with regard to the Directions and Guidance issued by the Secretary of State. The Rail White Paper, "The Future of Rail", proposes the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority. The strategic and financial responsibilities of the SRA will pass to the Department for Transport. Implementing this will require primary legislation and we will introduce a Bill as soon as parliamentary time permits.

Secondary information