Ms Eileen Fitzpatrick:

EUROSTAT is an independent European body. When it examines such matters, it has certain quantitative tests and is also entitled to take a qualitative view. Its opinion is absolute in these matters. Therefore, I cannot comment on its thinking process. It would apply a couple of very basic tests. It would look for the revenue to be generated to be at least 50% of the operating costs. It would look for economically significant prices to be charged and determine what the level of Government control would be.