Contributions
1,335 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)I think the Minister may have misunderstood my point. I was not for a moment suggesting that the passenger watchdog should take over responsibility for safety-critical functions.…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)Clause 47 deals with improvement plans. It allows the passengers’ council to request improvement plans from licensed rail operators “where it judges them to be, or likely to be,…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)That is all very well, but it is not the wording of the Bill. The text does not say “have regard to”; it is a mandatory requirement to investigate every single allegation. I…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)Clause 46 gives the passengers’ council a power to set consumer standards for operators of rail passenger services and station services, which will be imposed on them via licence…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)I have nothing to add on clause 44. Clause 45 provides a duty for the passengers’ council to secure independent dispute resolution arrangements. As the Minister just said, it is…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)I am not persuaded by the Minister. There are two amendments. In order to save time, I will press the first one to a Division, and the outcome of that will determine whether or…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)The shadow Minister; you are the spokesperson.03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)It is a genuine and legitimate concern of private sector rail operators that the tenor of the Bill will design out private sector and open access operators. Through the capacity…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)The Minister has described the function of clause 48, the lead measure in this group, but there is one notable exception from the list of bodies that can refer to the council for…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)The Minister’s response demonstrates an extraordinary lack of confidence by the Government in the efficacy of nationalisation—the very thing that they are seeking to promote in…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)Clause 31 has a bit more meat to it than the previous half dozen or so clauses. We are looking at the provision of railway passenger services. The clause provides that the…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)I beg to move amendment 67, in clause 42, page 23, line 7, leave out subsection (2).03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)I am unpersuaded. As I previously indicated, I will press amendment 74 to a vote. Question put, That the amendment be made.03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)I am interested in the Minister’s repeated insistence that there would be confusion if there were more than one enforcement body for rail activities. What is his proposed solution…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)You will be surprised to hear that I am going to canter through this, Mrs Barker. Clause 28 concerns the method by which the operation of passenger train services has been…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to move amendment 226, in clause 25, page 14, line 9, at end insert— “(1A) When designating railway passenger services, the Secretary of State must— (a) take account of— (i)…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)Thank you, Mrs Barker, for chairing the debate. It is great to see everyone back in the room. Clause 25 requires the Secretary of State to designate the railway passenger services…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)As I intimated previously, I will put the first amendment to a Division and then we will take a view after that. Question put , That the amendment be made.03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Ninth sitting)I was 23 at the time, and I certainly was not following every clause of the 1993 Act as it went through the House—I accept that that shows a shocking lack of dedication to my…03 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Tenth sitting)We are at the final furlong—for today at least. I will keep the pace up for the last straight. I am not going to make any comments on clause 53, the general duties of the LTUC,…03 Feb 2026