Written statement to Parliament

Triennial review of Passenger Focus

A triennial review of Passenger Focus and its governance arrangements will begin soon.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Stephen Hammond MP

My noble friend, the Minister of State for Transport, (Baroness Kramer), has made the following written ministerial statement:

We will shortly be commencing a triennial review of Passenger Focus (PF). PF is the independent non-departmental public body (NDPB) set up to represent the interests of rail passengers in England, Scotland and Wales, bus and tram passengers in England (outside of London) and passengers on scheduled domestic coach services in England.

Triennial reviews are part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that NDPBs continue to have regular independent challenge, including to their objectives and governance. A triennial review normally has 2 aims:

  • to provide a robust challenge of the continuing need for the NDPB
  • where it is agreed that it should remain as an NDPB, to review the control and governance arrangements in place to ensure that the public body is complying with recognised principles of good corporate governance

However, following the public bodies review, PF completed a significant restructure in 2011 and now has a key role in relation to future transport policy, including increasing the passenger voice in future rail franchises. As a result, it has therefore been decided that this review will focus its attention on the second stage.

The report of the review will be placed in the libraries of both Houses when it is completed.

Published 25 March 2014