Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Publicly Owned Rail Operators

Thursday 3 December 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial plans for publicly owned rail operators bidding for future rail contracts will be outlined in a White Paper after the course of the pandemic becomes clearer.
  • The Secretary of State is working to improve accessibility on the transport system to ensure disabled people are not prevented from accessing and staying in employment.
  • The Transport Committee has not yet received the emergency contracts with train operators implemented in September, and the Minister understands the Committee's wish to see the agreements as soon as possible.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rosie Cooper Lab
Transport
Context

The question arises due to the proposed concession model for rail operators, which could affect publicly owned operators' ability to bid for future contracts.

Question

I am concerned that under the proposed concession model, publicly owned rail operators will not be allowed to bid for future rail contracts. What plans does he have in this regard?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

We will outline our plans for the railway in a White Paper when the course of the pandemic becomes clearer.

Not addressed: The specific plans regarding publicly owned rail operators' ability to bid under the new model

How: When The Course Of The Pandemic Becomes Clearer

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Q2 Rosie Cooper Lab
Employment Transport
Context

Disabled individuals face significant barriers to employment due to a lack of accessibility on the transport system.

Question

Prior to this pandemic, many disabled people reported that work opportunities were out of reach due to insufficient accessibility on the transport system. What measures is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that disabled people are not prevented from accessing and staying in employment because of pressing accessibility issues on our rail network?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

The hon. Lady asks a very sensible question on a very important day, the United Nations-sponsored International Day of Persons with Disabilities. There is some good news, because 75% of all journeys—on what is a Victorian network that we are trying to upgrade—are now through step-free stations, compared with 50% only a few years ago.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to address accessibility issues for disabled individuals

How: Asking A Very Sensible Question On An Important Day

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Q3 Huw Merriman Con
Transport
Context

The Transport Committee has been struggling to obtain copies of emergency contracts between the Government and train operators, which are crucial for understanding the termination payment process.

Question

In September, the Government implemented the second set of emergency contracts with train operators. Despite two months having passed, these contracts have not yet been provided to the Transport Committee. May I urge the Minister to expedite this process? Additionally, when can we expect an update on how the termination payment process is progressing?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

I am not sure that my officials would ever do anything shifty whatever. I completely understand and appreciate that my hon. Friend's Committee wishes to see the redacted emergency recovery measures agreements as soon as practicable, but in the second part of his question he outlined the reason why the redaction of the documents is so important: there are extremely sensitive commercial negotiations ongoing at this point. He has my commitment that as soon as practicable, as we did with the emergency measures agreements before them, we will publish these documents and give them to his Committee.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline for making emergency contracts available and providing an update on termination payments

How: Extremely Sensitive Commercial Negotiations Ongoing

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