Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the purpose is of his Department's Rail Infrastructure Futures unit; on what date that unit was created; how many officials work in the Rail Infrastructure Futures team; and whether any external bodies have seconded staff to that unit or undertaken work at Rail Infrastructure Futures' request.

Officials in the Department for Transport’s Rail Executive continually consider a range of medium- to long-term policy issues relating to rail infrastructure management and connected issues covering the wider rail industry. 　In so doing, and to ensure the robustness of their work, they engage with internal and external stakeholders on a regular basis.