ANNIVERSARY OF LONDON UNDERGROUND PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

That this House notes that 31st December 2006 is the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the imposition of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) on London which fragmented and privatised London Underground's infrastructure; notes that under the terms of the PPP, multinational companies, Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Bombardier Transportation, EDF Energy, RWE Thames, Amey and Bechtel are responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the Underground's track, trains, signals, stations and escalators; is concerned that whilst these companies have made tens of millions of pounds in publicly-subsidised profits there are still frequent service disruptions and closures; fears that the continued failure of the PPP will disrupt London's hosting of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games; further notes that on the mainline railway, where Network Rail has bought maintenance back in-house on a not-for-dividend basis, punctuality and efficiency has been significantly improved; believes that the PPP has proved to be an expensive mistake; and therefore calls on the Government to bring forward the necessary legislative changes to abolish the PPP and allow for maintenance and renewals to be bought back in-house under the control of London Underground.