This from the DfT...
“Three officials involved in the West Coast franchise competition were
today suspended by the Permanent Secretary while the full facts are
established. No further details will be issued at this time about the
suspensions.”
So Rutnam apparently lives to fight another day, whilst junior officials carry the can.
No doubt the Chairs of both the PAC and TSC will want to have a word with the Permanent Secretary, as the DfT's Principal Accounting Officer, about his department's squandering of over £40m of public money and the complete derailment of the franchising process.
Perhaps Francis Maude also has a view?
