Network Rail

That the Parliament notes with concern reports that 10 of the 15 highest paid public servants in the UK work for Network Rail, according to Cabinet Office data published in January 2022; understands that the HS2 chief executive received between £620,000 and £624,999 as an annual salary for his services, while the Network Rail chief executive received between £585,000 and £589,999; believes that these are unacceptable salaries in light of Network Rail’s reported statement that it needs to make a permanent reduction in its operational costs; understands that more than 900 management-grade jobs at Network Rail will be cut after over 1,000 left under voluntary severance during the COVID-19 pandemic; notes with concern reports from trade unions that Network Rail plans to cut thousands of safety critical jobs from its maintenance and works delivery workforce; understands that drainage system and other faults contributed to the rail crash at Carmont in August 2020 that led to the deaths of three people, according to a report published by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch on 10 March 2022; notes the view that any further reduction in the maintenance budget in Scotland will have dangerous consequences for the safe running of the rail industry; further notes the view that savings can be made by reducing the salaries of chief executives and managing directors and bringing renewals work in-house, and notes the calls on the Scottish Government to meet with Network Rail and trade unions to raise what it sees as these pay discrepancies and ensure that all cuts to jobs and investment in the railway infrastructure sector in Scotland, including in the West Scotland region, are ruled out.