Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Transport Bill takes on board Select Committee recommendations on railways - Prescott
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date 16 December 1999
source Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
type Press release

New railway provisions in the Transport Bill had benefited greatly from recommendations made recently by the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott said today.

The comments followed publication of the Government's response to the Select Committee's report on the Railways Bill.

Mr Prescott said:

"I am very grateful for the Committee's hard work in scrutinising the Railways Bill and producing such a valuable and timely report. I am also pleased that we have been able to take account of so many of the recommendations in the Transport Bill now before Parliament."

The Committee welcomed the Railways Bill as "a practical way of addressing the problems of a restructured railway". Among the recommendations suggested by the Committee and incorporated in the new Transport Bill are:

new powers for high-profile rail consumer bodies to represent passengers' interests;
fines or penalties levied against railway companies will be retained by the SRA for re-investment in the railway;
wider financial powers for the Strategic Rail Authority to encourage the growth of rail freight;
clarification that the Rail Regulator has powers, with the Director General of Fair Trading, to enforce the Competition Act in relation to rolling stock companies.

Mr Prescott added:

"The Committee also made a number of recommendations on improving the regulation of transport safety. We will respond to those when we have received and considered the results of the various reviews and inquiries underway.

"The Transport Bill will set a clear, coherent and strategic programme for the development of the railways. It will put in place an effective regulatory framework for the industry while promoting the interests of passengers to ensure their voice is taken into account in the delivery of a modern, high quality rail system."

Notes for Editors

1. The Twenty-first Report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Railways Bill, HC (1998 -1990, 827) was published on 10 November 1999.

2. The Government's Response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's Report on the Railways Bill is published as Cm 4538 by the Stationery Office Ltd. price £5.20.

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Railhub Archive ::: 1999-12-16 DET-002