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Network Rail: Procurement

Asked by Joe RobertsonConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 18 June 2026UIN 7277

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of Network Rail's capital projects currently report on their social value activities; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure Network Rail meets its commitment to report social value activities for 100 per cent of capital projects by December 2030.

Answered by Keir Mather

In financial year 2025-2026, Network Rail has set up over 400 projects within the Rail Social Value Tool (RSVT) to monitor progress on the social value generated, including internal self-delivery projects and enhancement and renewals projects. As part of work to meet its commitment Network Rail is developing processes to monitor ongoing progress in reporting social value activities. Additionally, Network Rail commercial, procurement and sustainability teams have worked in collaboration to embed the Social Value Model (PPN 002), including delivering awareness sessions and ensuring tender processes align with requirements.

Network Rail is also improving tools to better capture and report social value, increasing transparency of economic valuation, and developing approaches tailored to the rail sector. Alongside this, it continues to build understanding and capability across teams through updated standards on minimum social requirements and cross-functional working groups to ensure consistent application.

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