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Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) Bill

Again, this simply underlines the fact that the department does not really know what it is taking on in terms of regulation. The Office of Rail Regulation has a highly skilled and quite well paid group of people. As the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, mentioned, it has spent a large sum of money overseas accurately benchmarking the costs and has then proceeded to enforce its views quite vigorously on Network Rail. Will that really be done by the department? I find it impossible to understand that as it is a very skilled job. To mention another industry, the Civil Aviation Authority has just completed its review of the charges at the London airports. Looking at the way in which Ferrovial’s shares shot up in price yesterday, there must be some doubt, even after all the work that has been done, as to whether it has done it efficiently. Therefore, the department is taking a huge burden on its shoulders, and it is one which I think it may live to regret.