Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report published on 16 September 2021 by the Rail Industry Association, entitled The Economic Contribution of UK Rail report, on the economic contribution of rail prior to the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government welcomes the report by Oxford Economics on behalf of the Railway Industry Association. My officials are reviewing the report in detail, to consider implications for policy. The Government is already clear that the rail industry makes a large contribution to the economy and jobs in this country, and we are committed to continuing to support and enhance that contribution.