Contributions
625 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Given that this is a large group of amendments, and given the legitimate concerns of the Committee, stakeholders and disabled people, I hope that hon. Members will forgive me for…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)Clause 38 places a statutory duty on the Secretary of State to conduct a review, within two years of the Bill’s enactment, on the level of bus services being provided to villages…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)Clause 39 would require the Secretary of State to implement a vision zero programme in the bus sector, with the aim of eliminating serious injuries in the course of bus…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I thank Committee members for their thoughts on the vision zero programme. My noble Friend the Minister for Rail noted in the other place that the Government are “sympathetic to…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)The clause requires bus operators that are contracted to operate a franchising scheme or enhanced partnership to record data about all assaults and violent behaviour that have…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)New clauses 5 and 44 seek to require local authorities to ensure that local bus operators are providing their drivers with access to CIRAS. The Government are deeply concerned…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)The drafting of the amendment looks complex, but its outcome is quite simple. It removes Welsh services where it is considered that the Welsh Government can achieve a similar…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I thank the hon. Member for tabling new clause 6, which I will deal with alongside the new clauses tabled by my hon. Friends the Members for Easington (Grahame Morris) and for…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)Once again, I thank the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion for tabling new clause 7, which I will discuss alongside new clauses 42 and 43. The new clauses seek to align the GB…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I think that the hon. Member is insinuating that there would be a choice there, but her proposal would remove that choice. As I was saying, the result of the changes could be bus…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)New clause 8 relates to training for officers in franchising authorities. It specifically focuses on officials from franchising authorities holding certification from the…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Go ahead.03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)New clause 9, tabled by the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion, seeks to require the Secretary of State to conduct a review of bus use by children, or those under 18, to consider…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I thank hon. Members for their thoughts on recording and sharing data about assaults. In the other place, we highlighted the fact that the Bill already includes measures to…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)To respond to new clause 10, the English national concessionary travel scheme costs around £700 million annually, and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)As I have already explained, local authorities across the country already have powers to use their funding, and they have done so on many occasions. New clause 32, which is on a…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)An excellent settlement was secured for buses in the latest spending review. Although we need to determine how to spend it most efficiently, the Government recognise that ensuring…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)On new clause 53, legislation to guarantee minimum levels of services for communities already exists in the Transport Act 2000. The Bill’s socially necessary local services…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I have already explained the Government’s position on the bus fare cap. It ensures that passengers up and down the country have access to affordable bus fares and, through those,…03 Jul 2025HANSARDBus Services (No. 2) Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)Poor performance by operators delivering franchised services is properly managed through the franchising contracts themselves. The Department’s franchising guidance clearly states…03 Jul 2025