Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Industrial Action: Railways

Thursday 30 June 2022 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Centre for Economics and Business Research estimated the cost of RMT's strike action to be at least 91 million.
  • Network Rail estimated the direct cost of the strike between 21 and 25 June to be between 100 million and 150 million.
  • Government intends to introduce legislation for minimum service levels later in the year, similar to those in France, Italy, and Spain.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne
Economy Transport
Context

The RMT's strike action between June 21-25, 2022, has caused significant disruption to the UK railway system.

Question

What assessment has been made of the economic impact of the rail industrial action between 21 and 25 June 2022?

Answer from Grant Shapps

The Centre for Economics and Business Research has estimated the cost of the RMT's strike action to be at least £91 million due to workplace absences. Network Rail has estimated the direct cost of last week's strike to be between £100 million and £150 million.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Transport
Context

During the covid-19 pandemic, significant financial support was provided to the rail industry. However, despite this support, a strike is currently underway.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. The effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the rail industry has been well documented, as have been his and the Chancellor's extensive efforts in providing support for our railways during that time. Does my right hon. Friend share my disappointment that, after two years of taxpayers' money being spent subsidising the rail industry, the RMT chose to strike instead of accepting the pay rise it has been offered or continuing to negotiate?

Answer from Grant Shapps

My hon. Friend is right, but it is actually even worse than that. Not only was £16 billion of taxpayers' money put in—£600 per family in this country, or £160,000 per individual railway employee—but the RMT balloted for strike action under the false pretence that there would not be a pay rise, when in fact the pay freeze had already ended. That is unjustified and unjustifiable action that the whole House should be condemning.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was about sharing disappointment with RMT's decision to strike; however, the answer elaborates on financial support provided during the pandemic and criticizes the RMT's actions but does not directly acknowledge or respond to the MP's expressed disappointment.

How: Working With Partners

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne
Employment Transport
Context

The MP is concerned about the significant cost caused by the recent strike actions and seeks a longer-term solution to prevent such disruptions.

Question

Given the significant cost of the strikes, what progress can we make towards the introduction of minimum service levels, like they have in many other European countries, albeit as a longer-term solution?

Answer from Grant Shapps

We are intending to progress with minimum service levels. That is in our manifesto, and we will be introducing legislation later this year. As my hon. Friend rightly points out, minimum service levels exist in civilised countries such as France, Italy and Spain, and it is about time we had them in the UK as well.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Peter Grant SNP
Employment Energy
Context

During shortages of essential goods such as fuel, prices typically rise to reflect scarcity. However, when it comes to the labour market, there appears to be a discrepancy in how wages are adjusted.

Question

Will the Secretary of State explain why it is that when essential goods such as fuel are in short supply the price has to go up, but when essential workers are in short supply, their wages are expected to go down?

Answer from Grant Shapps

As I have explained to the House, a pay rise was already on the cards, and it is false to have called a strike on the basis that there would be a pay freeze. The pay freeze had ended. It is also untrue to say that there needed to be wide-scale compulsory redundancies. Indeed, we had a voluntary redundancy programme, where 5,500 members of staff came forward, and we only accepted 2,500 of them. This strike has been called on the false pretences that I have described. It is time to end the strike and ensure that people get back to work, and it is time for those on the Opposition Benches to condemn the strikes.

Not addressed: The specific ask was about explaining wage dynamics during shortages; however, the answer shifts focus onto the false pretences of calling a strike and dismisses the MP's question.

How: Deflecting

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email