Orders of the Day — Railways Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:18 pm on 6 December 2004.

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Photo of Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Conservative, Cotswold 4:18, 6 December 2004

Returning to the subject of London, clause 15(3) refers to consultation that must take place before an invitation to tender for a franchise agreement is issued in respect of services that

"are or include London railway passenger services".

Given that 70 per cent. of all rail services pass through London, is not the Secretary of State setting up a huge bureaucracy, whereby he must consult and agree with the Mayor of London before such invitations are issued? If not, what will happen if there is disagreement between the two?