Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for conflict between Network Rail’s role in providing public infrastructure and acting as a private landlord.

There is no conflict for Network Rail between its statutory role in relation to infrastructure and in acting commercially to generate income to fund the operational railway, in accordance with the terms of Managing Public Money. Its occupational leases are designed to protect the safety, function and operation of the railway, as is the headlease of the sale.