Contributions
1,335 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)With your permission, Sir Desmond, I will deal with this in a slightly different order from that in which the Minister addressed it. I will deal with clause 14 in toto, and then…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Thank you for that indication, Sir Desmond, but exactly the same arguments that apply to the providers of bus services for a fee also apply to taxis. You can insert the word “bus”…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)No, I am pleased to say that I am not, Sir Desmond. Clause 14(6) makes specific reference to this. It was a requirement that was inserted into the Bill by the other place. I will…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)The Liberal Democrats’ amendment 54 would place a duty on local transport authorities to identify and then satisfy the need for all—and I stress “all”—socially necessary services,…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Amendment 39 would add healthcare services, schools and educational facilities to the list of socially necessary local services. The hon. Lady is, of course, right that those are…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I rise to speak briefly in support of Liberal Democrat amendment 66, which inserts a requirement for local transport authorities to review the adequacy of the existing network of…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)The hon. Lady is right that there is a risk of challenges in some areas, but in other areas there is the opportunity to increase provision for new markets. The difficulty is that…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)My hon. Friend is absolutely right; there is no commercial case for large-scale, frequent bus services to every small rural community. I have certainly not come across such a…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I am so sorry—it is in the name of the hon. Member for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East (Andy McDonald). I will therefore address amendments 34 to 37, which would allow for a…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I fear that the hon. Member and I may agree more than he perhaps thinks. As I said, I accept that rural routes are unlikely to be profitable, but that does not mean they should…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)The hon. Member is absolutely right that there is a fundamental difference of philosophy here. She appears to back what I described as the cosy relationship—but let us not use…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)I am grateful for that thoughtful intervention. In principle, the answer is yes, which is why we legislated in 2017 to allow that in principle and why we supported Greater…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)My hon. Friend is right. In broad terms, the Bill facilitates additional opportunities for local transport authorities, which is a good thing. As I have said, allowing franchising…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)The hon. Lady is bending over backwards to think of hypothetical instances in which it is possible that something like that could exist. The fact remains that we must ask—this…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)That is an interesting point, and the hon. Member is of course quite right. I did preface my comments by saying that competition is beneficial in most areas, but there are some…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under you, Dr Allin-Khan. Clause 5 deals with the minimum period before provision of services can be changed. It is not a difficult clause, but it is…26 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I will tell you at the end of the day. The Opposition welcome the Bill in principle, which is why we did not divide the House on Second Reading. We welcome it because franchising…24 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)It is very reassuring to have you in the Chair, Sir Roger. I already feel calmer, and I am sure the Minister does as well.24 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Clause 2 amends the Transport Act 2000 in relation to the availability of franchising schemes. It is essentially a facilitating clause to allow for one of the really important…24 Jun 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I agree with much of the hon. Lady’s description of Warrington’s Own Buses. A few weeks ago, I spoke to the company’s managing director and I was impressed, as I said on Second…24 Jun 2025