Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) agreement and (b) provision for pension liability risk was agreed between his Department and Virgin Trains when the extension to the West Coast rail franchise was announced on 21 December 2018.

The extension to the West Coast rail franchise was a short extension to an existing contract and was as allowed for in the Franchise Agreement. As in all other Franchise Agreements, the Franchisee (as the Designated Employer) is responsible for paying employer pension contributions required under the schedule of contributions applicable during their franchise term.