Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to prevent future strikes on South Western Railway; and if will he make a statement.

The RMT’s current mandate for strike action on South Western Railway expires in April. During the recent RMT strikes over Christmas and New Year, South Western Railway operated around 70% of their services, keeping passengers on the move. In December the Secretary of State met with Mick Cash to renew his offer of guarantees of employment to people who currently fulfil the role of the second person on the train beyond the length of the franchises. The Secretary of State and I continue to encourage a dialogue between the parties to resolve the RMT union’s dispute and avoid further unnecessary strikes for passengers.