Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the comparative cost of extending (a) rail operators’ Emergency Measures Agreements and (b) the Operator of Last Resort from September 2020.

The Department is reviewing its approach to potential contractual arrangements following the expiry of the Emergency Measures Agreements. Work is underway to consider a range of options and to determine the most appropriate approach. This work will take account of the potential impact of COVID-19 on demand for passenger rail travel in both the short and long term, and the associated economic and financial impacts on the railway, including analysis of Value for Money to taxpayers.