answer text |
<p>One member of the expert panel of four independent advisers supporting the Office
of Rail and Road’s (ORR’s) independent inquiry into the May 2018 timetable disruption
is currently a non-executive member of ORR’s board and one panel member was a previous
executive member of ORR’s board (until 2013). No other panel members are or have been
a member of a board whose roles are being assessed by the inquiry, and no other companies
whose roles will be assessed are represented on the panel.</p><p> </p><p>More generally,
the ORR is the independent regulator for the rail sector. As a public body independent
of government, the ORR is answerable to Parliament. It is established by statute,
and operates under a legislative framework that assures its independence from both
government and the rail companies it regulates. The government has asked the ORR to
conduct this inquiry within this framework, which assures the independence of this
work. As a result, Her Majesty’s Government is content that there is no adverse impact
from the limited board memberships referred to above on the independence of the inquiry.</p>
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