Contributions
565 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRailways Bill (First sitting)Q When we are considering best use, which is integral to the smooth functioning of the railway and the benefits that it can realise for the UK economy more broadly, we should…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you very much for being here this morning. Building on the topic of access and charging, which the Opposition spokesperson raised, can you go into a bit more detail on…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Thank you so much. I have no further questions.20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. I think that is really important. I have one final question, which builds on the point you made about mayoral combined authorities, devolution and the overall issue…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. You raise the really important point that the operational reality of how GBR works as an organisation matters as much as the accountability targets and metrics laid…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Thank you both. I hope you feel that GBR having a legal duty to promote the interests of passengers, especially those with disabilities, is a signal that we want accessibility to…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q I have a few more questions—and, Jason, these include you as well.20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)No, mine did not either—it is important that we also get to hear your perspective, Jason. One of the things I want to hit on is accountability. One of the benefits of the Bill…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Is there anything you want to add, Jason? Jason Prince: I will probably approach this session from more of a technical point of view than a thematic one. Fundamentally, the Bill…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Thank you. That is a really important point, which I am sure we will come back to, but I am conscious that other Members have questions, so I will sneak in at the end if I can.20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you, Mr Bowker, for coming to give evidence. Just the other day, a group of DFT civil servants were recommending your podcast to me, so you will be pleased to know that…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)I will certainly take that away.20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q I agree with you in principle that you cannot have just retrospective protections. Having a firm legal bedrock upon which GBR behaves in a way that is fair and…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you; that is really important. You raised another important point about transparency. That is an aspiration in creating the code of practice in the first place. To turn to…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you both very much for taking the time to come and speak to us today. I suppose the existing system is that retailers rely on what is often quite a complicated web of…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)We can set that out a little later, probably in the evidence that I give, but thank you all very much. I will let other Members ask questions.20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you; that is really useful insight, and I think it is incumbent upon the Government to make clear the sequential nature of the clauses, with best use coming first in…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Absolutely. It is a really fair point that, in the context of rail policy over the last two decades, it is right to have a healthy degree of scepticism about the willingness of…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you all for appearing before the Committee. I will start by asking you a macro question about the provisions in the Bill. There are two fundamental protections for freight…20 Jan 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Second sitting)Q I am glad to hear that. For the sake of the record, I should say that the hon. Member for Angus and Perthshire Glens was actually quoting the hon. Member for Moray West, Nairn…20 Jan 2026