Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role he has in granting authorisation for one rail franchisee to sell its potential franchise to another commercial organisation; if he will set out the process and procedures for any such sale; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State’s role is to give or withhold consent to the sale as provided for in the Franchise Agreement. This is at the Secretary of State’s discretion, and is exercised on a case by case basis.

General guidance on process can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-change-of-control-policy-statement/rail-franchise-change-of-control-policy-statement.