Philip Hammond on West Coast Main Line contract

Ministers do not get to see the full details of the bids submitted for rail franchises, a former transport secretary has said.

Philip Hammond, who has since moved to defence, was asked about his role in the West Coast Main Line rail bids, after the decision to restart the bidding process for the line linking London Euston, the West Midlands, North West England and Glasgow.

He told Andrew Neil that "ministers do not get to see those bids submitted" as that would be regarded as "inappropriate". Mr Hammond defended the rail franchising process and said civil servants dealt with the details of the bids.

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