To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated administrative and related costs are of re-letting the passenger rail franchise.

In the period running from the beginning of the process until the date that the reletting is completed in 2004, costs are likely to have been incurred directly and indirectly by a range of parties, including the Scottish Executive, Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive and Authority, the Strategic Rail Authority, each bidding company, and UK bodies.

Commercial costs are not available and an estimate of the total administrative and related costs likely to be accrued by other parties could only be made at disproportionate cost.