Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) capping or (b) suspending the payment of operating lease charges for rolling stock during the the covid-19 outbreak.

There has been no assessment made as these are legally binding contracts between the train operator and the rolling stock company. The expectation is that all contracted rolling stock will be required to manage social distancing on trains. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began I have met with the main rolling stock companies to discuss how they can support industry and the country during this time.