asked the Secretary of State for Transport what overall control of British Rail is exercised by his Department; and if he will list in detail the areas of management which are answerable to him.

The main controls I exercise over the British Railways Board are the appointment of board members; the setting of the public service obligation, the grant paid in respect of it, and the board's external finance limit; the setting of an investment ceiling and approval of major individual investment projects; ultimate decisions on passenger service closures; and the setting of financial targets. I also have powers to give directions of a general, or a specific nature, in certain circumstances. Day-to-day management of the railways is a matter for the board.