To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to encourage the involvement of private sector firms in the management and security of British Rail station car parks.

The Government have requested the British Rail board to explore the possibility of contracting out more of its support functions. A number of station car parks within the Network SouthEast area are already privately managed. I am asking British Rail to consider the feasibility of contracting out responsibility for the provision of other station car parking facilities.