Contributions
805 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDisruption at HeathrowI can categorically say that it would not be right for anyone or any business to capitalise on this disruption. Whether airlines or hotels, I would expect organisations to be…24 Mar 2025HANSARDDisruption at HeathrowMy right hon. Friend raises a fair point. I will ensure that we provide that information to him once we have reviewed the different reports that are going to be published over the…24 Mar 2025HANSARDDisruption at HeathrowI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his questions. The question of Heathrow expansion and this very rare—unprecedented—event are two entirely separate issues. He will be aware…24 Mar 2025HANSARDDisruption at HeathrowI am grateful to my hon. Friend, the Chair of the Transport Committee, for her remarks. The airports national policy statement is a site-specific document, but I will reflect on…24 Mar 2025HANSARDDisruption at HeathrowI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the tone of his comments. I assure him and other Members of this House that I will do everything I can to keep them updated, and I will…24 Mar 2025HANSARDGatwick Airport Development Consent OrderThe examining authority’s report on the Gatwick airport development consent order application was received on 27 November 2024. Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, a…27 Feb 2025HANSARDRail ReformOn Tuesday 18 February, I launched the public consultation for the Government’s upcoming railways Bill. This consultation sets out our proposals for the most comprehensive reform…24 Feb 2025HANSARDOpen Access Railway ServicesI am pleased that my hon. Friend has raised this proposal, which demonstrates the pragmatic approach we take to open access operators. Go-op will be the first co-operatively owned…13 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Road ConditionWe have empowered local councils to tackle the highway maintenance backlog, which is the result of a decade of under-investment by the previous Government. We have made an…13 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Road ConditionI am very grateful to my hon. Friend for her question. I know she is a committed advocate for improvements to the road network in the north-east. I recognise the importance of…13 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Road ConditionI am not the sort of Secretary of State who would sit at my desk in Whitehall and instruct local authorities to spend certain amounts of money on certain roads. I expect local…13 Feb 2025HANSARDLocal Road ConditionI would be very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to ensure that roads in his constituency and across London are maintained to an adequate standard. The increase of £500 million in…13 Feb 2025HANSARDOpen Access Railway ServicesOpen access operators will continue to have a place in our reformed Great British railways. We have supported new proposals from Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway, and…13 Feb 2025HANSARDOpen Access Railway ServicesI appreciate the right hon. Lady’s commitment to making the case for a new station at Aldridge, but I gently point out to her that in the 14 years of her party’s Government,…13 Feb 2025HANSARDOpen Access Railway ServicesOpen access operators currently account for 1% of our railways, and they do not always have the same public service obligations as other train operating companies. We have always…13 Feb 2025HANSARDOpen Access Railway ServicesI will happily ask the Rail Minister to meet the right hon. Gentleman to ensure that progress can be made at Wickford.13 Feb 2025HANSARDRolling Stock: Purchasing ModelsAs part of our reforms to the railway, we have set out that we will continue to lease rolling stock when we take contracts into public ownership, but we will apply a single…13 Feb 2025HANSARDRolling Stock: Purchasing ModelsI assure the hon. Gentleman that I do not lack any ambition when it comes to Great British Railways. It would cost billions in taxpayers’ money to buy existing rolling stock, at a…13 Feb 2025HANSARDCost of Rail ServicesIt is our ambition through public ownership to deliver a more affordable railway. This year’s fare increase of 4.6% is the lowest absolute increase in three years. We are…13 Feb 2025HANSARDCost of Rail ServicesI hate to disappoint the Father of the House, but I am afraid that I will not be making such a commitment today.13 Feb 2025