Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department has received from Govia Thameslink Railway on what the exceptional circumstances are that will allow trains to run without an on-board service supervisor.

Govia Thameslink Railway has given a commitment to its staff and the RMT union that trains affected by the conductor changes will only leave a station without an on board supervisor on very rare occasions. So, for example, in times of disruption (or when there is short-notice sickness) if a driver but no on board supervisor is available, to avoid delaying passengers unnecessarily, a train will run rather than be cancelled. During times of disruption an on board supervisor may be able to join the train later in the journey.