Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that third rail extension projects include financial assessments of safety concerns, to ensure compliance with the Office for Road and Rail.

We expect Network Rail to undertake an assessment of the costs and benefits for all its schemes, including safety aspects.

It has been encouraging to see recently that the new Chief Inspector at ORR has not closed his mind to further extensions of third rail electrification.