Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2021 to Question 158165, for what reason he has not provided the same level of financial support to Open Access Operators as to other rail operators.

Open Access Operators (OAOs) do not have any contractual relationship with Government. Rail Operators who held franchises prior to the pandemic, have an on-going contractual relationship with Government and are now party to Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs). These measures were necessary for franchised operators to enable the Government to continue meeting its Section 30 legal obligations to ensure the provision of rail services. These obligations do not apply to OAOs.

The Government has provided support to OAOs through the wider comprehensive package of support measures to businesses across the economy. OAOs have drawn on these measures, particularly the furlough scheme.

Officials will continue to monitor this situation and engage with all open access operators during the pandemic.