Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written Statement of 11 September 2014, by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Official Report, column 42WS, on rail franchising (Southeastern), what contractual guarantees have been secured from Govia about training for existing staff during the term of the directly awarded franchise.

The franchise agreement does have contractual guarantees on training for existing staff. This is in addition to the normal responsibilities the operator has for training its staff to meet its business requirements.

We will publish the Franchise Agreement in due course at

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-register-of-rail-passenger-franchise-agreements

.