To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had with representatives from Abellio on Rail Gourmet’s decision not to pay the Living Wage on the East Midlands franchise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had with representatives from Abellio on Rail Gourmet’s decision not to pay the Living Wage on the East Midlands franchise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he has had held with (a) Govia and (b) Abellio on the cancellation of the South Eastern rail franchise competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he has had held with (a) Govia and (b) Abellio on the cancellation of the South Eastern rail franchise competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) meetings and (b) discussions took place between his Department and the Government Rail Review Chair Keith Williams prior to the decision to award the East Midlands Trains franchise to Abellio on 10 April 2019.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) meetings and (b) discussions took place between his Department and the Government Rail Review Chair Keith Williams prior to the decision to award the East Midlands Trains franchise to Abellio on 10 April 2019.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department’s contract with Abellio on the East Midlands franchise includes any restrictions that would prevent payment of the Living Wage by catering sub-contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department’s contract with Abellio on the East Midlands franchise includes any restrictions that would prevent payment of the Living Wage by catering sub-contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with representatives from Abellio on Rail Gourmet’s failure to pay the Living Wage on the East Midlands franchise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with representatives from Abellio on Rail Gourmet’s failure to pay the Living Wage on the East Midlands franchise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Abellio bid for the East Midlands Trains franchise was fully compliant with the terms set out by the Department for the evaluation of bids.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Abellio bid for the East Midlands Trains franchise was fully compliant with the terms set out by the Department for the evaluation of bids.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the East Midlands franchise was awarded to Abellio until 2027 before the conclusion of the Williams review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the East Midlands franchise was awarded to Abellio until 2027 before the conclusion of the Williams review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 10 April 2019 to Question 243470, what estimate has he made of the amount of pension risk and liability the Government will be required to share on the East Midlands Trains as a result of the next actuarial...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 10 April 2019 to Question 243470, what estimate has he made of the amount of pension risk and liability the Government will be required to share on the East Midlands Trains as a result of the next actuarial...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2019 to Question 243472 on Abellio Group, what assurances his Department has received from owning groups (a) Abellio and (b) Arriva that any sale of their UK government rail contracts will ensure future owners have...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2019 to Question 243472 on Abellio Group, what assurances his Department has received from owning groups (a) Abellio and (b) Arriva that any sale of their UK government rail contracts will ensure future owners have...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assurances Abellio have provided his Department in relation to the pensions of staff employed on the East Midlands line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assurances Abellio have provided his Department in relation to the pensions of staff employed on the East Midlands line.

During Transport questions last Thursday, the shadow rail Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell), asked about the non-compliance of bidders for the East Midlands rail franchise. The Transport Secretary, who is not present, dismissed her questions as inaccurate and incorrect. However, according to a formal...

During Transport questions last Thursday, the shadow rail Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell), asked about the non-compliance of bidders for the East Midlands rail franchise. The Transport Secretary, who is not present, dismissed her questions as inaccurate and incorrect. However, according to a formal...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to update the House on the bidding process for the East Midlands rail franchise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to update the House on the bidding process for the East Midlands rail franchise.

As has previously been confirmed in a written ministerial statement and at the Dispatch Box on several occasions, Abellio was awarded the contract after presenting the Department with a compliant bid, following a rigorous competition which was consistent with public procurement rules. Our assessment of bids has been comprehensive and...

As has previously been confirmed in a written ministerial statement and at the Dispatch Box on several occasions, Abellio was awarded the contract after presenting the Department with a compliant bid, following a rigorous competition which was consistent with public procurement rules. Our assessment of bids has been comprehensive and...

Let me deal with the hon. Gentleman’s questions one at a time. In a complex procurement process such as this, or indeed in other complex public sector procurements, it is a matter of course that there may be small technical non-compliances. These could include, for example, incorrect font sizes or...

Let me deal with the hon. Gentleman’s questions one at a time. In a complex procurement process such as this, or indeed in other complex public sector procurements, it is a matter of course that there may be small technical non-compliances. These could include, for example, incorrect font sizes or...

Can the rail Minister confirm that under the terms of the new franchise passengers from Kettering will enjoy the reintroduction of two trains an hour going north from Kettering, which had been taken away, extra seat capacity on the Corby to London service and the introduction of electrification to Kettering...

Can the rail Minister confirm that under the terms of the new franchise passengers from Kettering will enjoy the reintroduction of two trains an hour going north from Kettering, which had been taken away, extra seat capacity on the Corby to London service and the introduction of electrification to Kettering...

My hon. Friend makes, as ever, a wise point on behalf of the constituents he serves so well. The point about this franchise, and indeed all our franchises, is that they bring benefits for the travelling public. This franchise will do just that. It will be delivering more trains from...

My hon. Friend makes, as ever, a wise point on behalf of the constituents he serves so well. The point about this franchise, and indeed all our franchises, is that they bring benefits for the travelling public. This franchise will do just that. It will be delivering more trains from...

There will be concern in Chesterfield that the East Midlands rail service currently provided by Stagecoach will no longer be in place. In terms of what the Minister is able to tell us about the process, how many fully compliant bids were there? In terms of the process going forward,...

There will be concern in Chesterfield that the East Midlands rail service currently provided by Stagecoach will no longer be in place. In terms of what the Minister is able to tell us about the process, how many fully compliant bids were there? In terms of the process going forward,...

The Department wants to provide bidding feedback to those who have been unsuccessful or disqualified, but it has never given bidding feedback in public in relation to losing bids. That would not be particularly fair on those who have bid, and there are commercial confidentiality points that could have market...

The Department wants to provide bidding feedback to those who have been unsuccessful or disqualified, but it has never given bidding feedback in public in relation to losing bids. That would not be particularly fair on those who have bid, and there are commercial confidentiality points that could have market...

Can the rail Minister assure me and the House that he will continue to ensure good value for money for taxpayers and for passengers, unlike Labour, which allowed fare rises of 13% during its time in government? I was once a resident of the east of England and therefore used...

Can the rail Minister assure me and the House that he will continue to ensure good value for money for taxpayers and for passengers, unlike Labour, which allowed fare rises of 13% during its time in government? I was once a resident of the east of England and therefore used...

I am absolutely clear that we will continue to seek good value for money for fare payers and taxpayers through the franchising process. The amount of money that is being invested in our railways is at a record level, because the Government believe strongly in rail underpinning our economy and...

I am absolutely clear that we will continue to seek good value for money for fare payers and taxpayers through the franchising process. The amount of money that is being invested in our railways is at a record level, because the Government believe strongly in rail underpinning our economy and...