Contributions
1,335 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRailways Bill (Third sitting)It is very nice to have you in the Chair, Mrs Hobhouse. I think this a conversation among Labour Members, and I do not want to get in the way of a private dispute. I might just…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Third sitting)I enjoyed listening to the Minister read out the explanatory notes; we are all under no illusion as to what clause 2 stands for. The Opposition think it is eminently sensible—in…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 241, in clause 3, page 2, line 17, after “including,” insert “acting in a fair and non-discriminatory manner”. This amendment would require equal treatment…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)That is just as well, because I am going to leave those to the Liberal Democrat spokesman, but I will be happy to support new clause 15 should he be minded to press it to a vote.22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)Correct me if I am wrong, but my recollection of Sir Andrew Haines’s oral evidence is that he gave an example of the experience not just on continental Europe, but in Scotland,…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Third sitting)This is where things liven up a bit. We have had the preliminaries; now we are going to get into the meat of the debate. Clause 3 is where the Government set out the proposed…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Fourth sitting)I am very supportive of the intent behind this new clause. Where the Government have taken the political decision to put all their eggs in the nationalisation basket, it becomes…22 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 (Fourth sitting)The Minister has set out his views on this clause clearly. We have already explored the difference of opinion about whether or not it should be the Secretary of State and GBR that…22 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Mr Morris, you have just been referred to. At the moment, you have a control period of five years where the funding is locked down and there is a degree of forward certainty.…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q You make an important point that enhancements should be included in this, not just maintenance. Coming back to the question, the Bill introduces for the first time an ability…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q You are saying that schedule 2— I think you referred directly to paragraph 7(4)—increases risk and uncertainty for the supply chain, and that, as with any business, you price…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Yes. That is the last 30 to 35 years or so. A control period is a five-year investment cycle. The period is agreed at the start of the CP, or shortly before the start of it, and…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q What you have shown us in your smuggled-in prop—20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)I am going to put words into your mouth, but please correct me if I am being unfair. In each control period, you get a bell curve of activity. You start with a low level of…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Would it be a better system if you had control periods that had a greater certainty looking forward at any one time between the decision when money was tied down—if indeed it is…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q I am just going to interrupt you. That is a different point from the one that I am asking about. I am talking about the cost of planning and implementing renewals and about…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Can you illustrate that with electrification, for example? Rob Morris: Yes—electrification and signalling are both part of the renewals process. The five-year cycle that we…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q What sort of sums of money are we talking about in the control period? Rob Morris: The overall figure is normally about £40 billion, in terms of renewals and operations…20 Jan 2026