Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to (a) prevent the closure of the Alstom factory, (b) protect jobs (i) at and (ii) in the supply chain for the Alstom factory.

We are in close discussion with Alstom to explore options to help it find a viable and sustainable long-term solution for its Derby site, which have been ongoing since the summer. The Secretary of State wrote to rolling stock owners in September to encourage them to discuss with train operators and manufacturers opportunities such as refurbishments or major overhauls to ease short-term challenges in the supply chain. My Department has also established a cross-Departmental group to advise on ways to support continued production at Derby and to develop plans for supporting Alstom’s employees, and those of its contractors and suppliers, should Alstom decide to cease manufacturing at the site.