Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) the Office of Rail and Road on the necessary provision of information by Network Rail to the Office of Rail and Road, so the Office of Rail and Road can take decisions on open access rail applications.

The Department for Transport works closely with both the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and Network Rail to ensure that information to inform access decisions is provided in as timely a manner as possible. However, it is important that decisions are fully considered and potential impacts to taxpayers, the efficient and reliable operation of the network, and to other operators are properly assessed.