Contributions
511 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRailways Bill (Thirteenth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alec. I had not planned to speak to the new clauses, but as they are pertinent to things going on in my constituency, I will…10 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)I have listened to the Minister’s comments. As I said earlier, we will not press amendment 80 to a vote, but I wish to press the others to a vote. Question put, That the amendment…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)South West Devon.05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Hobhouse. There is not much to say, except that the hon. Member for Didcot and Wantage raised a question about our…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)Clause 64(1) requires GBR to develop a charging scheme setting out the charges to be paid for access to and use of GBR’s infrastructure, and the extent to which charges may by…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)I thank the Minister for that. Yes, absolutely; I believe our amendments are much more about the infrastructure that GBR has responsibility for and about operators not having to…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)I agree with my hon. Friend. I alluded to that issue earlier in my comments, and my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland and Fakenham raised it on Tuesday. That is why we are…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to move amendment 99, in clause 74, page 42, line 24, after “monitor” insert “and audit”. This amendment would require the ORR to monitor and audit GBR’s statutory functions.05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)That is fine. I knew as soon as I opened my mouth.05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)The Minister just said that the amendments are completely unnecessary, because the stated concerns are not real, effectively. That does not answer the very real concerns put…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)I beg to move amendment 242, in clause 64, page 36, line 6, leave out subsection (1)(b). This amendment would remove the requirement for GBR to charge in relation to trains which…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)It is a privilege to work under your chairmanship, Mr Western. I start by conveying the apologies of my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland and Fakenham, who is not able to be…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)Clauses 76 to 79 change the current duties on the ORR, the Secretary of State and Scottish and Welsh Ministers to maintain a register, in sections 72 to 73B of the Railways Act…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)I have indicated that we want to press amendment 99 to a Division. Question put, That the amendment be made.05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)I can appreciate where the hon. Member is coming from. It sounds like a good idea; however, it could still be in the legislation directly, and the illustration he gave still…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)Amendment 254 is good in so far as it goes in relation to rail freight, but other rail operators also provide public benefit and should receive a similar level of protection. The…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)Clause 74 amends the Railways Act 1993. It gives the ORR a new function to monitor GBR’s delivery of its statutory functions and carry out investigations where appropriate to…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Twelfth sitting)Clause 75 prevents the ORR from issuing directions to GBR relating to providing, improving or developing railway facilities. It also prevents the ORR from imposing a fine on GBR…05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)Amendment is 211 is mine, and we would like to press it to a vote. [ Interruption. ] Oh, no, that is also a Liberal Democrat amendment—that says “Opp” as well.05 Feb 2026HANSARDRailways Bill (Eleventh sitting)Something that the Minister said reflects back to what my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland and Fakenham said on Tuesday. Not putting private operators, open access and freight…05 Feb 2026