Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential benefits of publicly owned rolling stock.

Great British Railways will consider the financing of new rolling stock on a case-by-case basis, taking into account affordability, value for money, deliverability and risk. As stated in the Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy, this will include considering direct public ownership alongside leasing and other financing arrangements to get the best overall outcomes for passengers and taxpayers. The potential benefits of public ownership could include better whole-life and whole-system value as well as greater operational flexibility.

Any proposal for direct ownership will need to be affordable within available budgets and will remain subject to the applicable business-case, funding and approval processes.