Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government on which dates the Secretary of State for Education met the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss travel contingencies for students travelling by rail to (1) school, (2) college, or (3) university, during periods of disruption to rail services.

My right hon. Friend, the former Secretary of State for Education, did not formally meet in a one to one format with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, between 15 September 2021 and 20 June 2022.

Ministers and officials in the department regularly attend meetings alongside other government departments, including the Department for Transport, and have done so in the lead up to the strike action. These meetings have been to prepare for the industrial action, highlighting risks and contingencies for our sectors. Daily meetings are taking place, both at an official and ministerial level, to monitor how the rail disruption may be impacting pupils and students.

The department will continue to closely monitor the impact of the rail strikes.