Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the disqualification of Stagecoach from three rail franchise bids, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the jobs and terms and conditions of all staff employed by sub-contractors for Virgin Trains West Coast are protected.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Invitation to Tender for the West Coast Partnership does not specify a reduction in any staff, and is explicit in its requirement for a franchisee who will provide a high-quality experience for all customers, including through excellent customer service.
Overall, since 2010/11 we have seen an increase in the total number of people employed by Train Operating Companies of nearly 20%.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether a train guard will be retained on every train in the next West Coast Main Line franchise contract.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Invitation to Tender for the West Coast Partnership does not specify a reduction in any staff, and is explicit in its requirement for a franchisee who will provide a high-quality experience for all customers, including through excellent customer service.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the current catering provision will be (a) maintained and (b) expanded in the next West Coast Main Line franchise contract.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The West Coast Partnership Invitation to Tender incentivizes a future franchise operator to develop proposals to significantly improve the overall catering offer for passengers, such as improving passenger choice, quality, complimentary first class catering and offering advance ordering or at seat services.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the current ticket office provision will be (a) maintained and (b) expanded in the next West Coast Main Line franchise contract.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The West Coast Partnership Invitation to Tender requires any future franchise operator to deliver a high-quality standard of ticket retailing service to all customers which will provide them with widespread and easy access to the full range of fares and a range of ticket retail opportunities that meet their needs.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the current level of provision of station staff will be (a) maintained and (b) expanded in the next West Coast Main Line Franchise contract.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Invitation to Tender for the West Coast Partnership does not specify a reduction in any staff (including on train), and is explicit in its requirement for a franchisee who will provide a high-quality experience for all customers, including through excellent customer service.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the disqualification of Stagecoach from three rail franchise bids, whether Virgin Trains will retain the West Coast Main Line franchise until March 2020.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The current franchise agreement with West Coast Trains Limited is due to expire on 1 April 2020. There is a contractual option to terminate the franchise agreement at the Secretary of State’s discretion no earlier than 11 November 2019 upon the provision of three months’ notice to West Coast Trains Limited.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the disqualification of Stagecoach from three rail franchise bids, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the compliance of the remaining bidders for the West Coast Main Line franchise.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department does not comment on a live competition. All bids received for any franchise competition are evaluated against the requirements and instructions set out in the relevant Invitation to Tender.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on job (a) numbers and (b) roles of staff employed by Virgin Trains West Coast of the disqualification of Stagecoach from three rail franchise bids.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Invitation to Tender for the West Coast Partnership does not specify a reduction in any staff, and is explicit in its requirement for a franchisee who will provide a high-quality experience for all customers, including through excellent customer service.
Overall, since 2010/11 we have seen an increase in the total number of people employed by Train Operating Companies of nearly 20%.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on job (a) numbers and (b) roles of staff employed via subcontractors on the Virgin Trains West Coast line of the disqualification of Stagecoach from three rail franchise bids.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Invitation to Tender for the West Coast Partnership does not specify a reduction in any staff, and is explicit in its requirement for a franchisee who will provide a high-quality experience for all customers, including through excellent customer service.
Overall, since 2010/11 we have seen an increase in the total number of people employed by Train Operating Companies of nearly 20%.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions officials in his Department have had with the Pensions Regulator on the decision to disqualify Stagecoach from bidding on three rail franchises.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Department for Transport officials had no discussions with The Pensions Regulator in respect of the Department’s intention to disqualify Stagecoach from the three franchise competitions before making that decision. All bidders were given the same opportunity to bid compliantly and they were warned not to submit bids which were not compliant. Stagecoach breached established rules and, in doing so, they are responsible for their own disqualification.