Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Framework Agreement between his Department and Network Rail on the reclassification of Network Rail will ensure that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies to Network Rail.

On 17th December 2013, the ONS announced that under new EU statistical rules (ESA10) which come into force on 1st September 2014, Network Rail will be reclassified to the public sector.

The Department for Transport is currently working with Network Rail to decide on the details of how Network Rail will operate in the public sector. A Framework Agreement explaining these decisions will be published before 1st September.

This Framework Agreement will address a number of issues, and this is likely to include our intended approach to the FOIA.