THE GOVERNMENT is being urged not to confirm the award of the Intercity West Coast contract to FirstGroup next week by the chairman of the cross-party Transport Select Committee.
Louise Ellman has written to transport secretary Justine Greening calling for the process to be delayed, giving time for the Department for Transport's calculations to be analysed.
The call comes amid growing protests about the result of the competition, which left the incumbent Virgin Trains in second place. Virgin has claimed that the business plan set out by First, which includes the payment £5.5 billion in premiums at net present value, is unachievable, while First insists its figures are 'robust'. Virgin had offered £4.8 billion.
An e-Petition created in support of Virgin has now attracted more than 98,000 signatures. When a e-Petition attracts at least 100,000 signatures the point at issue can then be debated by Parliament, although there is no guarantee.
Margaret Hodge, who chairs the Commons Public Accounts Commitee, also wants to put the details of the deal under scrutiny, but she has stopped short of trying to halt the process.
However her colleague Louise Ellman, who chairs the Transport Committee, wants the transport secretary to intervene.
In a letter to Justine Greening, Ms Ellman said: "As this has taken place during the Parliamentary recess, the Transport Committee has not had an opportunity to consider the matter. I intend to raise it with Committee Members at our first meeting on 4 September and to propose that the Committee explore these issues as soon as possible, provisionally at a public oral evidence session to be arranged for Tuesday 11th September. I expect that some Members will want to ask you about the West Coast franchise when you give oral evidence to us on the work of your Department on the following day.
"I understand that the final West Coast franchise documents are due to be signed by the Government on 28 August. I would ask you to consider delaying this for a short while to allow the Transport Committee to explore the matter first. I believe this would help to provide greater transparency and address the concerns that have been raised."
As things stand First is due to sign the contract next week after the expiry of a 14-day 'cooling-off' period, and take over the franchise on 9 December.