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<p>Further to the Written Answer to HL9184, specific ministerial responsibilities
are not broken down in this manner. In addition, day to day responsibility for industrial
relations and disputes in the rail sector lie with the individual employers, such
as transport operators and trades unions. The Minister of State for Transport has
no formal role in this relationship.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>However, the Minister
often meets with officials to discuss policy areas relating to rail industrial relations
and receives regular weekly updates on industrial relations disputes. Also, when the
Minister meets the industry’s employers, part of that engagement may include an update
on their plans for improving industrial relations. In addition, where there are industry-wide
questions that could benefit from engagement with trade unions then, where appropriate,
the Minister may seek discussion with them. For example, invitations to meet with
the Minister have been extended to ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite to discuss the development
of an approach for the rail industry to move towards adopting CPI as the inflation
measure for industry costs and fare rises. As at 6 September, the Department for Transport
has not received any positive responses to these invitations.</p>
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