Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is seeking to negotiate reforms to the rail network as part of its pay negotiations with train drivers' unions.

As the Department is not the employer, negotiations are between the industry and the trade unions.

The Rail Delivery Group, on behalf of the train operators, has presented a fair and reasonable offer to the rail trade unions including ASLEF, which included urgent reform to ensure our railways are financially and operationally sustainable for the benefit of passengers, rail workers and the taxpayer as well as delivering a pay rise.