Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Department for Transport and Office of Rail Regulation staff are investigating Network Rail's costs of electrification; and whether the Department for Transport is planning to take over the responsibility of the Office of Rail Regulation for monitoring Network Rail's costs.

The detailed cost estimates for future rail electrification are still being developed by Network Rail and will be evaluated using the Enhancement Cost Adjustment Mechanism set out in the Office of Rail Regulation’s Final Determination for Control Period 5. This process is not expected to conclude until early 2016. There are no plans for changes to the responsibilities of the three organisations in relation to monitoring costs.