Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government's proposed socio-economic duty will apply to the operation of nationalised trains.

Section 1 of the Equality Act (Socio-Economic duty) is the responsibility of the Minister for Equalities.

The Office for Equality & Opportunity is working toward commencement of the duty. We will work with the Cabinet Office on progress towards enactment and the interaction with Rail Reform.