Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the £1 billion reduction in Network Rail railway enhancement budget for Control Period 6, what discussions Network Rail executives had, prior to the Spending Review settlement, with (a) his Department and (b) HM Treasury.

The Spending Review involved a considerable amount of detailed discussions between the Department, Network Rail and HM Treasury. As a consequence, Network Rail were heavily involved throughout the Spending Review negotiations, with both the Department and HM Treasury.