Contributions
1,117 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCarbon Emissions: Bus FleetsThe full transition to zero-emission buses is a vital part of the Government’s plan to make buses better for passengers and to realise the benefits of lower running costs, cleaner…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentThe British Railways Board was abolished in 1993. The way in which the railway needs to work in future has to reflect the significant devolution in the country since then. It is…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentOf course, I congratulate the noble Lord on his previous appointment, which seemed to last nine years, so you might judge it successful. I think that the present appointment will…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentFares on the railway are so complicated that even the people who sell them do not understand them. Some of them look absurdly expensive; some are very cheap. It is very possible…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentI think everybody on the railway was extremely grateful for the support the Government showed for the railway service at that time. Nevertheless, the consequences of Covid have…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentSince Covid, the railway has got only four-fifths of its previous income. The train operating companies are now, in effect, flat contractors to government and their owners are…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentI should concentrate on my noble friend’s right description of the chaos of the last 30 years. The railway is not functioning properly; far too much of the time of everybody…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentThe Chancellor announced in the Autumn Budget that the tunnels from Old Oak Common to Euston will be built. It is, of course, necessary to have built the tunnels in order to…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentI thank the noble Baroness for her endorsement of the qualifications of Laura Shoaf, who is indeed well acquainted with both the operation and development of urban transport…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentYes, it is a reasonable thing to do. This is not the chair of Great British Railways, which will be established after the substantive railway Bill in due course; this is an…12 Nov 2024HANSARDShadow Great British Railways: Chair AppointmentMy Lords, passengers and the taxpayer cannot afford to wait until we have established Great British Railways. Therefore, we have taken the immediate steps of establishing shadow…12 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversOf course, we all agree that insurance is necessary and that its costs have been rising. Indeed, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport has instituted a…11 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversThis Government take road safety very seriously, and reducing the number of those killed and injured on our roads is a key priority. The department is currently considering policy…11 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversEvery death on our roads is a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way. As I have said, the Secretary of State is…11 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversThe Government and their agency are working extremely hard to reduce the backlog of driving test appointments, but it is also quite clear that people should be ready for the test…11 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversI would say that the driving licence system is not breaking down. We are seeing new cycles, some of which are not in fact cycles. If they are adapted to do more than 15.5 miles an…11 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversThe Government are, of course, completely committed to ensuring that motorcyclists are equipped with the specialist skills necessary to stay safe on the road. I will write to the…11 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversI thank my noble friend. I am afraid I am already one of those people who is subject to the more rigorous requirements; as a vocational licence holder over the age of 70, I have…11 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversI thank the noble Lord for that thought, and of course he has great experience in this matter. The Government are very conscious of the principal reasons for fatalities and…11 Nov 2024HANSARDNewly Qualified Young DriversThe Government would completely agree that it is quite wrong that people should need to use what were referred to as “dodgy websites”—which is obviously a technical term. The…11 Nov 2024