Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Rail Delivery Group has sought to change the negotiating mandate set by him in relation to the ongoing industrial dispute with rail trade unions.

The Government’s priority is to resolve the dispute and work with industry to deliver crucial reform to our railways. We have supported negotiations between the Rail Delivery Group and the trade unions by trying to foster positive relations, facilitating discussions and improving communications. While progress has been made, the actions of the RMT and ASLEF unions continue to cause significant disruption and are preventing the resolution of the dispute.

RMT members overwhelming accept the Network Rail two-year offer earlier this year. We have not yet seen RMT offer its members in the Train Operating Companies (TOCs) a chance to vote on an almost identical offer from the Rail Delivery Group on behalf of the TOCs. This offer would have seen lowest paid benefiting from up to a 13% pay increase over two years. If there is to be an end to the industrial disputes, we urge trade unions like RMT and ASLEF to allow their members to have a say on these industry offers.