SOUTH EASTERN TRAINS AS A PUBLIC SECTOR COMPARATOR

Early day motion 884, tabled 23 March 2004 by Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 23 members.

That this House is concerned that costs in the railway industry have escalated massively since privatisation, with a five-fold increase in regulatory staff and massive rises in the cost of maintenance and renewals; welcomes, with some qualification, the current review of the structure of the railway industry as a great opportunity to tackle these problems; notes however that the review process has been badly handled; calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to set out clearly the terms of reference of this review and what he would like to emerge from the process; welcomes the decision to terminate the contract for the South Eastern franchise contract from Connex; notes that the management of South Eastern Trains has only been within the public sector for four months and that it is too early yet to judge what changes have taken place; and urges the Government to retain the South Eastern franchise as a public sector comparator from which to assess costs and performance within the railways so long as it is proven to prove the best value for money for the taxpayer.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 18, Labour 5.