To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department will provide funding for the retention of rolling stock following the closure of the Oldham Loop Line in Greater Manchester in October 2009. (283352)

[holding answer 1 July 2009]: The Department for Transport is not planning to provide additional funding for the redeployment of the rolling stock displaced through the conversion of the Oldham Loop from heavy rail to Manchester Metrolink light rail. However, the rolling stock may be redeployed either commercially, through support from the passenger transport executive or through the High Level Output Specification Programme.