Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of (a) First Group and (b) Trenitalia on the level of competitiveness in the bidding process for the next East Midlands Trains franchise.

The FirstGroup and Trenitalia joint venture was one of four companies shortlisted to run the next East Midlands franchise. We have received notification from First Group about their intention to withdraw from the East Midlands franchise competition to focus on their joint bid for the West Coast Partnership. We are confident that we will have a robust and competitive process with the remaining three bidders.