Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the long-term implications for passengers of the different means of resolving the current industrial dispute between the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and ASLEF, and Southern Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway; and whether they intend to take steps to ascertain the views of passengers on how the dispute should be resolved.

Passengers simply want to see this futile dispute resolved.

This is doing nothing but hurting passengers, and we urge the unions involved to get around the negotiating table with Govia Thameslink Railway and stop inflicting unnecessary pain on passengers on this part of the network.

As we have repeatedly made clear, this is a dispute between employers and employees. However the Secretary of State met with ASLEF - before they decided to strike - and I strongly urge both ASLEF and RMT to get back round the negotiating table with the serious intention of actually resolving this dispute.

The Secretary of State for Transport and the Rail Minister have repeatedly said if the unions suspend their strike action, they will meet with them.