Member

Further, GBR’s business plan is where GBR will set out how much it will be able to deliver for the country with the funding that the Government can provide. We absolutely expect those plans to demonstrate how it is meeting its duty to use public money efficiently. To meet that duty, I would expect to see GBR planning to make rail services more attractive to passengers, planning to attract outside investment, planning to make good use of devolved authority funding and achievable cost savings, and taking other measures to reduce taxpayer subsidy. Following that, the ORR will review the plan and advise the Secretary of State on whether it represents good value for money while also being bound by a duty to make efficient use of public funds. Finally, the Secretary of State will approve the plan with her own duty to consider the efficient use of public funds in mind. I therefore think that the intent is delivered by the Bill as drafted.