Network Rail has separated accounts by route. The DfT has set out the costs of supporting the network by TOC subsidies per mile and reliability. Together we are now publishing a great deal of performance data, from right time and passenger complaints to statistics on overcrowding. Our rail reform programme highlighted 3 specific areas for transparency: rail finances network performance and open access to information. Organisations which can be held to account by citizens and elected representatives. The Open Public Services White Paper last year set the scene for the government’s transparency agenda.Īnd that was followed this year by another White Paper and the DfT’s Open Data Strategy.įundamental to these programmes are public services which are responsive to the people they serve. So let me put rail transparency in some sort of perspective. We are correcting that and we will be more transparent in future, but you have to do your bit as well. The Laidlaw report last week made a specific criticism of the DfT when it said the department wasn’t transparent enough with bidders about the franchise process. This must be a shared agenda, while we have made big strides over the past few years, we still have some way to go. It comes from those on the outside who stand to benefit from it… the passengers and the public who provide the patronage and pounds sterling. It’s about building the respect, trust and confidence of the people who use and fund the network - passengers, freight customers, and taxpayers.Ī true measure of transparency comes not from those who claim to practise it. I’m proud of the progress we have made to open up government and the wider public sector in this country. It’s something we need to see more of from every powerful institution.

So you won’t be surprised that I’m a passionate believer in transparency. The first bill I presented to Parliament was on the release of public records and I was the first person to submit a FOI request of MPs’ expenses, with all the ramifications that led to. I have campaigned for transparency ever since I was first elected in 1997. Let me begin by giving you my own perspective on transparency. We’re here to talk about ‘transparency’ – one of those modern buzzwords that we hear all the time in politics, business, and the media. It’s a great pleasure to join you today for this important conference.

Atoc national fares manual