<strong>In the debate on rail transport in the Commons yesterday, John Redwood asked the Minister when Network Rail is going to understand the cash-raising possibilities for refurbishing stations such as Wokingham.</strong>
The question and answer, taken from Hansard, follow.
<strong>Mr. John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con):</strong> When will Network Rail, a publicly owned company, get to grips with problems such as a very tatty and run down station in Wokingham that could be rebuilt from the proceeds of planning gain on its very valuable site?
<strong>Mr. Harris:</strong> The right hon. Gentleman has been misinformed. Network Rail is a private company over whose operations I have no direct control. He takes a close interest in these matters, so he will know that in the White Paper published in July we announced ?150 million to act as leverage money for the 150 medium-sized stations. We expect major improvements to be carried out by Network Rail and its partners during the next control period between 2009 and 2014.
John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College, and has a DPhil from All Souls, Oxford. A businessman by background, he has been a director of NM Rothschild merchant bank and chairman of a quoted industrial PLC.
