Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help resolve industrial disputes between rail workers and franchises.

The Transport Secretary wants to see an end to the rail industrial disputes, which are affecting passengers, the industry and the rail workers themselves. He is very clear that it is for employers and trade unions to negotiate the details of essential workforce reforms that would enable an affordable pay deal. Discussions are ongoing at a high level between the Rail Delivery Group (on behalf of the train operating companies), and trade unions regarding workforce reform and pay.