Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on ensuring that the railway supply chain receives a sufficient volume of orders through to the end of Control Period 6 to its maintain skilled workforce.

We have regular discussions with Network Rail throughout the year on a number of topics, including supply chain capability.

We are currently undertaking the biggest investment in our railways for over a century and our HLOS, published on 20 July, makes clear that we expect in the volume of renewals and that funding will be available to meet this increase, subject to further work to assure the costs of this activity.

This signals to the supply chain that there will continue to be demand for their services in the current and future control period.