Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to allocate surplus Thameslink rolling stock to SouthEastern Trains in response to the submission made to his Department by SouthEastern in February 2015.

Department for Transport officials have asked Southeastern to consider all available opportunities within the rolling stock market and received outline options in February, with a more detailed proposal due from Southeastern by the end of the month. Any decision on the Department funding additional rolling stock must be supported by a business case which clearly demonstrates both affordability and value for money, and we will be working closely with Southeastern to assess the options, costs and benefits before taking any funding decisions.