Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the proposals relating to Network Rail set out in paragraph 1.255 of the Summer Budget 2015, if he will publish in relation to those proposals a Green Paper or a White Paper; and whether those proposals will be subject to a public consultation.

In paragraph 1.255 of the Summer Budget 2015 the government announced a number of proposals relating to Network Rail. These included appropriate methods of transparency and consultation:

• The Secretary of State has asked Sir Peter Hendy, Chair of Network Rail, to continue the company’s work of devolving more power to route managers. This is an internal management matter for Network Rail, which I look forward to discussing with them further.

• The government will change the way it channels public money through the industry, directing it through train operating companies. This will involve detailed consultation with industry as part of the Office of Rail and Road’s upcoming Periodic Review process (PR18).

• The government will also introduce a new approach to station redevelopment and commercial land sales on the rail network. This work will engage with the government’s ongoing Strategic Land and Property Review (SLPR). This will ensure a robust approach which is consistent with wider government work in this area.