Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport (1) asked for, and (2) was given, a ministerial direction before the Secretary of State announced the end of the current East Coast Franchise on 29 November; and if not, whether they are satisfied that their decision represents value for money and the efficient use of public funds.

The Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport did not ask for, and accordingly was not given, a ministerial direction in this case.

Assessments of Value for Money and the efficient use of public funds will be made at the appropriate stage in our standard processes. All decisions will be guided by HMG’s “Managing Public Money” guidance in the usual way.