To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Mr Stephen Byers has spoken to the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, regarding National Express's East Coast franchise; and, if so, what was (a) the date on which the contact took place, and (b) the nature of the contact.[HL3052]

I had a brief conversation in the House of Commons with the right honourable Member for North Tyneside in June 2009 about the East Coast Main Line. I set out the content of the conversation in my Answer to the noble Baroness' Question on 22 March 2010 (Official Report, col. 754).

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, has been informed of any payments made by the National Express Group plc, its subsidiaries or representatives to Mr Stephen Byers; and, if so, at what date he was informed of any such payments. [HL3053]

I have not been informed of any payments made by the National Express Group plc or its subsidiaries or representatives to the right honourable Member for North Tyneside.

To ask Her Majesty's Government on what occasions the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, (a) met, or (b) spoke to, (1) Mr Stephen Byers, (2) representatives of the National Express Group plc or its subsidiaries, and (3) Mr Stephen Byers and representatives of National Express Group plc or its subsidiaries together, since 3 October 2008. [HL3054]

Since 3 October 2008, I have had the following meetings and discussions:

As set out in my Answer to the noble Baroness' Question on 22 March 2010 (Official Report, col. 754], I had a brief conversation about the East Coast Main Line with the right honourable Member for North Tyneside in June 2009 in the House of Commons. I also met him socially on 11 February 2010; no matters relating to National Express were discussed.

I have met representatives of the National Express Group plc or its subsidiaries on a regular basis. As Minister of State, I had meetings on 23 October 2008, 28 November 2008, 18 February 2009 and 21 April 2009. Since becoming Secretary of State, I have met representatives on 9 June 2009, 26 June 2009 and 17 November 2009. Some of these meetings were specifically to discuss issues relating to National Express Group plc or its subsidiaries; others were wider events involving other transport stakeholders.

I have held no meetings or discussions with the right honourable Member for North Tyneside and representatives of National Express Group plc or its subsidiaries together.