To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to her written ministerial statement of 26 February 2008, Official Report, columns 73-4WS, on First Great Western franchise, how many carriages First Great Western is running; how many the franchise requires them to run from April 2008; and how many they will run from April 2008. (190609)

[holding answer 29 February 2008]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written statement made by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State, on 26 February 2008. This statement confirmed that additional carriages will be added to trains operating the First Great Western Portsmouth to Cardiff route from this summer.

The franchise agreement will be changed specifically to commit First Great Western to implementing the passenger benefits package, including the additional carriages for the Cardiff to Portsmouth route. These will comprise 10 extra carriages.

With regard to other rolling stock in its fleet, First Great Western has in the past increased the size of its fleet in response to operational needs, but details of the extra rolling stock are matters for First Great Western itself.