To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if BR Research will own as a private company intellectual property rights in innovations in railway technology developed by BR Research while in the public sector; if it will also carry liabilities resulting from litigation over any failures of such technological developments; and what compensation will he paid to other sections of British Rail which formerly had access to the use of such developments without payment of a licence fee. [32685]

The detailed terms of the disposal of BR Research, due to be agreed by the end of this financial year, will be a matter for the British Railways Board.