Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) safety critical and (b) non-safety critical roles agency staff will be permitted to cover during strike action on the rail network.

It will be for the train operating companies, as the responsible party, to decide on the agency staff they require. As the industry undertakes vital reforms, safety remains a top priority for all parties and the Government will never compromise the safety of passengers.

Train operators and Network Rail operate to very high safety standards which are regulated by the Office of Rail and Road.