Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to resolve the industrial dispute affecting the Northern Rail network.

The industrial dispute is a matter between Northern, its employees and their union representative in which the Government cannot intervene directly. However, the Government is keen for these strikes to end. They are having a big impact on the people and businesses of so many communities across the North. The Government has written to the Rail North Partnership (through which the Department and Transport for the North co-manage the Northern franchise) expressing our clear support for a second member of staff on Northern trains who is focused on delivering excellent customer service. Northern have now confirmed to the RMT that there will continue to be a second appropriately trained member of staff on board the trains, and have guaranteed jobs and pay will be protected. The Government therefore continues to call on both parties to engage in talks and resolve the dispute.