Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the Operator of Last Resort to each rail franchise as an alternative option to Emergency Recovery Management Agreements.

My Department considered the options to maintain rail services after the end of the Emergency Measures Agreements, including potential scope for use of the Operator of Last Resort in view of the legal framework, and the costs and benefits of multiple options. My Department decided to offer Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements to the relevant franchised train operators as the best solution to secure outcomes for passengers, taxpayers and the wider industry.