Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) environmental and (b) economic benefits to (i) passengers and (ii) taxpayers of taking a whole life asset approach to rail infrastructure including rolling stock.

In line with our published guidance on how to assess costs and benefits of government schemes and policies, DfT do take into account a whole life asset approach for estimating environmental and economic impacts including for rail infrastructure and rolling stock appraisals where appropriate. We are unaware of any recent assessment of the whole life asset approach itself, it is industry best practice.