Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of page 20 of the First Group financial results published on May 30 2019 which states in respect of railway pension liabilities that it is not possible at this stage to determine the impact to ongoing contribution requirements; and whether that company is compliant with his Department’s West Coast Partnership franchise provisions in respect of railway pension liabilities.

The Department does not comment on live competitions. Please note that all bids received for any franchise competition are evaluated against the requirements and instructions set out in the relevant procurement documentation.