Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:34 pm on 13 November 2001.
Does my right hon. Friend accept that it seems incredible that Railtrack, knowing immediately after the Hatfield disaster that it might have financial difficulties, did not consider going to the Rail Regulator and asking for a review, but preferred to try to negotiate with the Government? If Railtrack was really concerned to protect its shareholders, should it not at least have approached the regulator before that date, almost 24 hours before the order was made?