Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing public bodies to bid for rail franchises; and if he will make a statement.

Passenger journeys have more than doubled since privatisation, with private sector involvement bringing innovation, investment and competition to our railways.

There is an important role for the public sector in franchising, as part of new public and private partnerships. An example being the recently announced East Coast Partnership. This will ensure the railway gets the best of both the private and public sector, keeping the benefits of privatisation while maintaining vital infrastructure in public hands and preparing our railway to meet the challenges of the future.