Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 65 of the report of the Smith Commission, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to give the Scottish Government discretion to decide whether or not to tender for rail services for which it is responsible.

In respect of Paragraph 65 of the report of the Smith Commission, legislative proposals are being brought forward by Government to unlock such existing executive functions that the Scottish Ministers have as “appropriate franchising authority” and “appropriate designating authority” to allow public sector operators to become franchisees in respect of Scotland-only services.