Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to set out details of new Passenger Service Contracts with operators and potential operators.

Once market conditions allow, we intend to subject all contracts both private sector and those under the OLR, to competitive tendering.

We are working to develop new Passenger Service Contracts to enable a return to competition in the market to drive value for money for customers and the taxpayer.

As the Secretary of State reaffirmed in the George Bradshaw address, we will enhance the role for the private sector as we deliver reform across the railways. Competition is essential to unlock the growth, innovation and efficiency that is required to create a sustainable model which delivers for railway customers.

In the short term, we are working with the industry to introduce improved commercial incentives in existing contracts.

We will consult with the market to develop and design the detail of these new contracts, before launching competitions in due course.