To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport in what circumstances his Department would (a) hold a full consultation process before refranchising and (b) use the specification on which the previous franchise had been based in cases where a train operating company surrender a franchise prematurely. (289700)

It is the Department for Transport's established practice to carry out a public consultation exercise, in line with the Government's Code of Practice on Consultation, before finalising the specification for each new franchise, including where a franchise has been surrendered prematurely.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which existing rail franchises he expects to return a net premium to his Department by the end of the franchise period, taking into account all anticipated revenue support payments. (289711)

The existing rail franchises that are contracted to return a premium to the Department for Transport were set out in my answer of 20 July 2009, Official Report, column 758W. The Department’s forecasts of any additional receipts or payments under the revenue sharing arrangements in those franchises are commercially confidential.