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Railways: Nationalisation

Asked by Mr Richard HoldenConservativeTreasuryTabled Answered 27 October 2025UIN 84269

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of nationalising the rail network on the Government's (a) balance sheet, (b) debt and (c) future liabilities in each of the next ten years.

Answered by James Murray

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are responsible for classification decisions and measurement of public debt. Both publicly and privately owned DfT-contracted train operating companies are already included in the public sector, classified currently by the ONS as public non-financial corporations. Network Rail is also already classified to central government. HM Treasury and Department for Transport officials will assist the ONS in this work as required.

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