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Significant complexity remains, however, in the plan outlined by Mr Bowker. Given the complex nature of running and funding a huge infrastruture such as the railways it may be impossible to create a simple, workable system. But in that case it could be counter-productive to institute wide-ranging structural reformation.

The rail industry problems will remain the same ones regardless of how the industry is structured. The bulk of the people working in the industry will also remain unchanged. All the strengths of the industry, such as they are, need to be directed at solving the problems. Another reformation might just get in the way.

Be prepared for constitution debate

IT WILL be with a heavy heart that the business community re-engages in the debate about Europe that is sure to come in the lead-up to the referendum on the proposed constitution. There is disagreement about whether the existing relations with Europe are broken. But most will fear that the fixing process will do nothing but add headaches.

There will be some who will enjoy the prospect of closer union with our cousins across the Channel and hope that open campaigning will elicit a useful “yes” vote. There will be others who will relish the opportunity to outline the dangers that could come with integration and look forward to a “no” vote that clears the air once and for all. Most business people, however, had hoped that the issue had quietly found its way into the long grass and they will simply be dismayed at having to engage, again, on this troublesome and tiresome matter. For most, things European are distractions they could do without.

It is not that business is against Europe. They want free and full access to any markets and those on the Continent are, by any standards, big markets. But debate about the constitution and the uncertainty it will create will deflect attention away from the nitty-gritty of securing sales and making profits. It may give too many customers and financial backers unwelcome excuses to delay purchasing and investment decisions.

There will be many that oppose the adoption of a new constitution because of the risk that it will expand the amount of red tape for business to negotiate and because a “yes” vote may lead to a reopening of the vexed issue of currency amalgamation. There may also be much reticence about speaking out against the moves because they do not want to end up on the losing side, and risk retribution because of that. The quality of the politcal debate over the constitution, however, will benefit no end from full and frank contributions from those that steer the primary source of national wealth generation.

WHEN Gordon Brown launched a mission to wring £20 billion a year of efficiencies out of state bureaucracy last month, sceptical eyebrows were raised. It has not taken long for the cynics to find ammunition to use to undermine the Chancellor’s intentions. Whitehall blew £1 billion more than planned on its own administration over the past financial year. Yes, these numbers relate to the past and Mr Brown’s promises concern the future. But it still gets the good housekeeping campaign off to a bad start.

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