Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of Network Rail's work by value was outsourced to external firms in the 2016-17 financial year; what the total value of that work was on (a) maintenance, (b) renewals and (c) enhancements; what the total profit to external firms from those contracts was for (i) maintenance, (ii) renewals and (iii) enhancements; and what the total additional cost resulting from multiple tiers of external contractors duplicating project management functions was relating to (A) maintenance, (B) renewals and (C) enhancements.

In the 2016-2017 financial year, Network Rail contracted out the following work by value, in relation to maintenance, renewals and enhancements:

• In relation to maintenance in 2016-17 accounted for 16.6% of the total maintenance spend by Network Rail in year.

• In relation to renewals in 2016-17 accounted for 60.5% of the total renewals spend by Network Rail in year.

• In relation to enhancements in 2016-17 accounted for 78.3% of the total enhancements spend by Network Rail in year.

Breakdowns of the reported profit of Network Rail’s external sub-contractors, and data relating to any incremental costs from external contracting is not held by Network Rail.