Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any conflicts of interests were declared to the Department by any person or organisation involved in assessing, awarding and overseeing the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise.

All individuals engaged by the Department in assessing the bids, awarding the contract and overseeing the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Franchise signed a franchise specific conflict of interest and confidentiality form; or were covered by a memorandum of understanding between their employer and the Department; or were covered by a contractual provision or professional duty to report conflict of interests. Two individuals reported minor perceived conflicts of interests, that the Department reviewed and was comfortable with. There was a conflict of interest relating to the Department’s Technical Advisor, Atkins and one of the losing bidders. The Department sought legal advice about managing this matter and mitigations were put in place.