Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether a cost benefit analysis has been conducted of the Operator of Last Resort running Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern rail services.

I can confirm that my Department is following its well-established procedure for selection where no invitation for tender is issued in accordance with the Section 26 franchising policy statement (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/243471/9780108512322.pdf). This process takes account of all relevant factors, in accordance with paragraph 14 of that policy, including value for money.