Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what communications between the Department for Transport and (1) Stagecoach Group, and (2) Virgin Rail Group, took place prior to the development of the rail strategy announced on 29 November; and whether they will publish those communications in full.

We regularly meet and work closely with all our franchisees and their owning groups. Stagecoach Group and Virgin Rail Group are no exceptions.

We are in discussions with Virgin-Stagecoach to ensure the needs of passengers and taxpayers will be met in the short term whilst laying the foundations to bring forward the reforms, as outlined in the Strategic Vision for Rail, in full under a long-term competitively procured contract.