Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether under the terms of the emergency recover management agreement between First-Trenitalia West Coast and his Department the franchise operator continues to be paid in the event that cleaning is disrupted by industrial action.

Under the terms of the franchise, as amended by the Emergency Measures Recovery Agreement, the operator is paid a fixed fee during its term. Operators can also receive a performance-based fee when performance levels are adequately met or exceeded which is independently evaluated.

The Department requires the operator, where possible, to mitigate the impact of industrial action on passengers. In the event of industrial action operators will develop additional plans in support so it is able to deliver the best possible service for passenger despite any disruption.