Written Question: DfT Operator

Lord Moylan: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 15 April (HL Deb col 59GC), whether the staff transferred from the Department for Transport (DfT) to DfT operator are, or will be, physically located in Network Rail premises in Waterloo; and whether they plan to maintain managerial and operational distance between DfT operator and Network Rail in the context of the formation of Great British Rail.

Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, CBE):

Staff transferred from the Department for Transport (DfT) to DfT Operator are based in a range of office locations, including Network Rail premises in Waterloo and other locations across the country. NR and DFTO are separate companies with different legal duties. On the journey to GBR they are co-locating and working closely together - for example co-designing GBR with DfT - to ensure that benefits for customers and taxpayers can be delivered as soon as possible.