Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his announcement of 21 September 2020 on ending rail franchising, whether the Government has taken over the obligations from franchised operators for paying pension contributions to the Railway Pension Scheme.

As was previously the case under the Emergency Measures Agreements, train operating companies remain liable for employer contributions to the Railways Pension Scheme under the Emergency Recovery Management Agreements (ERMAs) announced on September 21. The Department will be taking the financial risk on those costs during the period of the ERMAs.