Contributions
1,335 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)This is one of the more important clauses, so I look forward to discussing it with the Committee. It sets out the general duties of Ministers, GBR and the Office of Rail and Road.…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Seventh sitting)I thank the hon. Member for his intervention, and for standing up for the jobs in his constituency, which is something we all need to do. I cannot speak for the actions of the…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Seventh sitting)My hon. Friend is absolutely right. New clause 33(3)(a) to (d) is aimed at reducing short-term decisions and focusing more on long-term efficiency and savings. I am sure there are…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)I beg to move amendment 34, in clause 18, page 10, line 12, leave out “They” and insert “Each person or organisation designated under section 18(1)”. This amendment clarifies that…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)I beg to move amendment 39, in clause 23, page 13, line 9, at end insert— “(3) The memorandum of understanding must be published at the same time as the Rail Strategy. (4) The…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)The principle the Government continue to establish is important for the relationship between the state and the ORR when it comes to safety-related duties. I recognise the…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)You will not be wholly surprised, Mrs Hobhouse, to know that I am entirely unconvinced by the Minister’s arguments. This is one of the key differences of opinion between the…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)I do not know why I bothered going to the gym this morning, Mrs Hobhouse, because I have been doing squat thrusts every time I rise to speak to a new group of amendments. Clause…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)I understand the point the Minister is making about the lack of relationship between those two documents. In the debate on the previous group, he was able to give an indication of…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)I hope it will be the last, but I fear I will not be. I have some key questions for the Minister. I understand that the memorandum of understanding has not yet been finalised; has…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)The Minister refers to the booking app also offering the ability to ask for assistance. Will he undertake to provide access to that data so that independent retail operators can…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Seventh sitting)The usual procedure applies again. Clause 16 requires both GBR and the Office of Rail and Road to “have regard to” a number of different requirements, such as the long-term rail…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Seventh sitting)The Minister is touching on a key issue that the railway will have to address if he is serious about achieving a reliable Sunday service, and that is operating a seven-day…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)I am grateful for the Minister’s explanation. I do not intend to stand in the way of the clause standing part of the Bill. It is quite clear that it should do so in some form.…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Seventh sitting)I beg to move amendment 26, in clause 16, page 9, line 11, leave out “have regard to” and insert “seek to achieve”.29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Seventh sitting)I am grateful to the Minister, who is doing his job in highlighting some of the practical challenges that the amendment might entail. The important bit is not so much the…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Seventh sitting)I have listened carefully to what the Minister has said on amendment 25, particularly his comments on the Secretary of State, so I will not press it to a Division. Amendment…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)Having heard the semi-reassurance of the Minister, I will not move amendment 40. Clause 24, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Ordered, That further consideration be…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)Will the Minister clarify his argument? I ask because a business plan by its nature looks forward, whereas a report looks backward and marks homework. How can the business plan…29 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eighth sitting)In oral evidence before the Transport Committee, Ben Plowden, the chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “We have a question about the difference in the…29 Jan 2026