Contributions
1,396 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD West Coast Main Line FranchiseI thank the hon. Lady for her tempting invitation, but I am not going to second-guess His Majesty on what he will announce in the King’s Speech. What I can say is that this is a…19 Sept 2023HANSARD West Coast Main Line FranchiseThe hon. Lady is deliberately drawing on statistics from before the recent improvements that the Government are recognising in this contract award. However, there is a further…19 Sept 2023HANSARD West Coast Main Line FranchiseI thank my hon. Friend for his positive remarks, which give the lie to the previous comments made directly. I can assure him that the Government are focused and will remain…19 Sept 2023HANSARD West Coast Main Line FranchiseI am not sure what the hon. Gentleman is referring to, since the Minister was on time. I will not say that it was an improved service over the normal one, but it was hopefully an…19 Sept 2023HANSARD West Coast Main Line FranchiseThe hon. Lady did not ask a question, but I understood every word of her speech. Since she is new to the House, she might want to have a conversation directly with the rail…19 Sept 2023HANSARD West Coast Main Line FranchiseWith my hon. Friend’s minutiose attention to detail, he will recognise that yesterday we had the rail replacement bus Minister, but today we have another rail replacement…19 Sept 2023HANSARD West Coast Main Line FranchiseThe hon. Member’s use of choice parliamentary or possibly unparliamentary language is not something I would want to repeat, even if I thought it was accurate. It is important for…19 Sept 2023HANSARD West Coast Main Line FranchiseWhat I recall from that hearing is that Mr Mellors said 1% of the tickets at Glasgow were sold through the ticket office, that there would be a full staff in front of the ticket…19 Sept 2023HANSARDUK Automotive IndustryWhat an excellent debate it has been! I have been very interested to follow the contributions that have been made—very welcome they are too. You may recall, Madam Deputy Speaker,…18 Sept 2023HANSARDUK Automotive IndustryAn economist of my right hon. Friend’s distinction will know that it is futile to predict the activity of private markets, because they so often move faster than we would imagine.…18 Sept 2023HANSARD Flying SchoolsI am not making policy from where I stand; I was speaking as a former Treasury Minister about the general attitude towards VAT and the general problem that no Government of any…12 Sept 2023HANSARD Flying SchoolsOf course individuals are welcome—and will want—to consider all the options under all circumstances, but I have not accepted the hon. Member’s narrative that the sector is in…12 Sept 2023HANSARD Flying SchoolsThe hon. Gentleman is right to raise that interesting question. I have already talked about one scheme that has a similar approach—not a loan scheme, but an apprenticeship scheme.…12 Sept 2023HANSARD Flying SchoolsIt is a delight to see you in the Chair, Sir Robert. I thank everyone who has spoken in the debate, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Wythenshawe and Sale East (Mike Kane) on…12 Sept 2023HANSARD Flying SchoolsHear, hear!12 Sept 2023HANSARD Flying SchoolsThe hon. Gentleman raises an interesting and somewhat philosophical question. I do not intend to get enormously technical on this issue, but the reason why, in the case of…12 Sept 2023HANSARD Flying SchoolsI do not think that that number is correct. Let me put that on the record.12 Sept 2023HANSARDCycling and Walking: InfrastructureWe are respectful of decisions made locally by local authorities, but he is absolutely right that, as I said, we are seeking to promote choice. That approach does mean that where…13 Jul 2023HANSARDCycling and Walking: InfrastructureThe Government, as the House will be aware, are investing more than any other in active travel, with more than £3 billion in investment over this Parliament, which enables the…13 Jul 2023HANSARDTransport Infrastructure: DecarbonisationAll transport infrastructure projects delivered by the Department’s arm’s length bodies are required to undertake whole-life carbon assessments and set carbon reduction targets as…13 Jul 2023