Contributions
1,335 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)rose —27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)My hon. Friend is entirely right. That will be a theme of our comments on and challenges to the Bill throughout the progress of our scrutiny: accountability without responsibility…27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)Where is the reference to persistent, urgent and unforeseen incidents in the Bill?27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)Will the Minister give way?27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)I am grateful that the Minister is being very generous. In my opening remarks, I asked him to give me some real-world examples of when injunctive relief might be required. Could…27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)It is just as pleasurable to have you in the Chair today as it was last week, Sir Alec. I remind hon. Members that clause 7 gives the Secretary of State the power to issue and…27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)As I have set out in my series of amendments, the appropriate oversight and control is to remove the chief executive. The Minister must accept that, if the Secretary of State…27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)It is not a perfect analogy, because GBR is at least intended to be more akin to a business—a nationalised business—but my hon. Friend is entirely right that where we have two…27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have made that point as forcefully as we can. I trust the Minister when he says that he will take it away and do his best with his…27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Sixth sitting)I agreed with the hon. Gentleman until that last sentence, because new clause 40, which I will come to in a moment, would require not the removal of subsidy but looking towards…27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fifth sitting)I beg to move amendment 12, in clause 7, page 4, line 30, after “functions” insert— “where the Office for Rail and Road, in carrying out its functions under section 69A of the…27 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)Thank you very much, Sir Alec. We are making progress—it may not feel like it, but we are. Courage! We’re getting there. Clause 5 deals with co-operation with relevant local…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Third sitting)In which case, I will speak first to amendment 2, as that is first in the grouping, and then proceed to the others. Amendment 2 would make explicit the duty of Great British…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)It is a pleasure to see you in your place, Sir Alec. Amendment 241, in my name, is important, as so many of these amendments are. We heard in both oral and written evidence that…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)I am grateful to the Minister for setting out his defence of the Bill. The problem with his argument is that, because the Government have gone off half-cocked, the Committee is…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)I was going to say 1.5%, but maybe it is 2%. Let us call it approximately 2%; I leave rail freight in a separate category. But open access operators have a disproportionate impact…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the Minister for his brief explanation of the clause. Under clause 3, the Committee was able to discuss the principles of the future structure of GBR, but clause 4 is the…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Third sitting)I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I recognise that improvements are needed for the drafting of the board were it to go ahead. He makes reference, however, to the board…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 232, in clause 5, page 3, line 37, at end insert— “(2A) Where no arrangement between Great British Railways and a relevant local authority exists, the…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)I am grateful to the Minister for his explanation, and to the hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford for giving his lived experience of the TfL area. I am partially convinced. I…22 Jan 2026