Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of compulsory training on sexual harassment and gender-based violence for workers in passenger transport to better equip transport workers to report and takes steps against sexual harassment.

Everyone has the right to feel safe when travelling and using public spaces. Ensuring front-line transport staff have the right training to deter unwanted sexual behaviour and support victims is an important element of this.

The Department works closely with transport partners on a range of initiatives to address the problems faced by vulnerable groups on the transport network. For instance, the Rail Delivery Group has developed a specific sexual harassment awareness training package which is being delivered to frontline rail staff across operators.

However, we know that we must do more, which is why I am looking forward to receiving DfT’s Women’s Safety Champions, Laura Shoaf and Anne Shaw’s, independent recommendations on how we can improve safety on the transport network soon.

We are determined to improve the safety of our transport network and will seriously consider how best to deliver on their recommendations.