Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to bring forward proposals for a rail ombudsman.

I have been leading discussions with industry and consumer bodies about introducing a rail ombudsman that would improve the passenger voice in rail and provide independent binding resolution of complaints. Work on the detail of the scheme, which is being developed by a Task Force which includes the Rail Delivery Group, Transport Focus, London TravelWatch and the Office of Rail and Road, is progressing.

I anticipate being in a position to provide a further update by the end of the summer when the work of the Task Force has been further developed.