asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the fitting of toilet retention tanks on high-speed train rolling stock was part of the recent franchise agreement with First Great Western.

The recently awarded franchise agreement for the First Great Western services did not include fitment of toilet retention tanks.

The refurbishment programme for the First Great Western high-speed train rolling stock is intended to provide a 10-year life extension to support services during the current franchise until the introduction of their replacement, the Inter-City Express. Work to fit toilet retention tanks to the existing rolling stock would require increased train weight and major structural modifications that cannot be justified as part of this life extension programme.