To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the statement of 12 February 2009, Hansard, columns 1531-33, on new trains (investment), what assessment he has made of the effect of World Trade Organisation treaty obligations on UK and European suppliers competing for railway rolling stock tenders in Japan.

The European Commission has highlighted the difficulties of entry for non-Japanese companies into the Japanese rail market. I understand that there are a small number of European trains and train components in Japan, and that there is the potential for more, although this is likely to require significant investment on the part of any potential market entrants. The Foreign Office continues to work with the European Commission—which takes the lead in this area—to review the issue of barriers to market.