Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2019 to Question 243447 on the East Coast Railway Line, through which Government Department Members of Parliament can hold Network Rail accountable for its performance.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) regulate Network Rail, holding it to account for delivering high levels of performance and service, as well as good value for money – for passengers, the freight industry and taxpayers. The ORR are accountable to Parliament and the public.

The Secretary of State sets the high-level strategy for Network Rail, though Network Rail retains a high degree of autonomy in how it meets the aims of that strategy. The Secretary of State of Transport is accountable to Parliament for the activities and performance of Network Rail.