Contributions
939 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesI thank my hon. Friend because—as he puts it himself, but he is being too modest—he is working with us constantly to ensure that Hitachi’s concerns are addressed. We have met…16 Apr 2024HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesThe hon. Member’s argument is slightly punctured by the fact that Hitachi built its plant after the Conservative Government came to power, because it understands that we support…16 Apr 2024HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesI thank my hon. Friend; he is a champion of the railway, and it was an absolute delight to visit him at Huddersfield station and talk about some of those projects. Of course, his…16 Apr 2024HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesI thank the right hon. Member for the points she has raised. The discussions have been cross-party: the leader of Derby council has worked very closely with the Department to try…16 Apr 2024HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesI thank my hon. Friends the Members for Mid Derbyshire (Mrs Latham) and for Derby North (Amanda Solloway) for the amount of work that they have put in to press us, privately but…16 Apr 2024HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesThat is correct—good. I am glad I have got that on the record. My hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Peter Gibson) is absolutely right. This matter is complex and challenging,…16 Apr 2024HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesThese are private sector companies. They of course rely on Government-funded contracts, but ultimately they are private sector companies, and this is a matter for them. Our job is…16 Apr 2024HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesI certainly take that point from my good friend. The hon. Member has worked tirelessly for the rail workforce, and I know that he means everything he says with passion and…16 Apr 2024HANSARDRail Manufacturing: Job LossesThe hon. Lady asks whether the Secretary of State will take responsibility and work on this matter. He is doing that right now. He is about to start a meeting with the chief…16 Apr 2024HANSARD Cross-Solent FerriesLet me begin by saying that it is my pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Latham. I am delighted to be standing in for the maritime Minister today; he cannot attend…26 Mar 2024HANSARDNorth Cotswold Line: DuallingAs my right hon. Friend mentions, additional funding through Network North will help. Network Rail has been working with the taskforce and its consultants on timetable capacity…21 Mar 2024HANSARDRail ServicesYes indeed. Thanks to our great West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, we now have the midlands rail hub, which will better connect more than 50 stations across the midlands. My right…21 Mar 2024HANSARDRail ServicesThe Secretary of State has led for the Department on the response to Hitachi and Alstom, and their understandable concerns about orders. As I have said, we have a challenge, in…21 Mar 2024HANSARDRail ServicesThe trial with LNER tries to give passengers greater flexibility. They can now get on a train 70 minutes either side of the one that they booked, rather than just the one fixed…21 Mar 2024HANSARDRail ServicesI am delighted by the progress that the hon. Lady mentions, and she is right about that third station. I will meet officials, so that I can write to her with the details. I am…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThere was a retendering at Chalkwell, and Network Rail found that the existing structures would not be suitable to deliver the project as it stood. The design work is going on…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe point I was making is that if the operator changes, the contracts between operator and the unions will remain unless the unions are willing to release. There cannot be a…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will happily write to the hon. Lady and the Langport Transport Group so that they have a response, if they feel that that is outstanding. The Prime Minister has committed to…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is a challenge. The shortage of crew is largely down to sickness, the level of which is about 8.5%, which is too high. We are working with the operator to ensure that it is…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend. He has been a champion not only for Cleethorpes’ direct rail service, but for the east coast main line timetable change that was announced in the Budget.…21 Mar 2024