asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 19 March (WA 51), if a catering plan is provided as part of a franchise bid and does not form part of any contract, whether a bidder could undertake to provide a catering service but not deliver it. [HL2882]

Catering is a matter for train operators and so does not normally form part of either the franchise specification against which intending operators are invited to bid or the franchise agreement subsequently concluded between the Department for Transport and the successful bidder. Operators are therefore free to make changes to the catering service they offer without having to seek the department's consent.