Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Office of Rail and Road’s 2020 annual safety report into the rail industry, whether Network Rail has spent any money on consultant services in connection with meeting the requirements of safety legislation in the financial year 2020-21.
Safety of the rail network is the operational responsibility of Network Rail, which is regulated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). Network Rail has invested significantly in meeting its health and safety requirements during 2020-21, including through the £70m fund for improving track worker safety announced in 2019. It has not spent money on consultancy services during this period in relation to the ORR’s 2020 annual safety report.