Question

To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has made a comparative assessment of the cost of booking rail tickets for MPs and their staff from (a) rail operators and (b) booking agents.

The Parliamentary Travel Office (PTO) books train tickets through Evolvi. Rail tickets sold in the UK are regulated and the cost of booking tickets is the same irrespective of where the ticket is purchased. Parliament, however, receives commission from individual rail operators, where partnership agreements are in place – which effectively makes the overall cost to Parliament of booking rail tickets cheaper than purchasing elsewhere.