Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) his Department has completed its evaluation of bids and (b) he has completed his consent relating to the tender for the Southeastern franchise; and whether his Department currently has credible live bids for that tender.

We are still in the evaluation phase of the competition. My Department wants to ensure that the franchise meets the needs of passengers and taxpayers and will provide an update in due course.