Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October to Question 239 on First TransPennine Express: Finance and with reference to the financial performance data received by his Department on 27 September 2019, whether First is fully compliant with the requirements of its operating franchise agreement.

The Department can confirm that First TransPennine Express was fully compliant with the relevant financial requirements of its Franchise Agreement based on the financial performance data received on 27 September 2019.