(Slough) (Lab): On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. In response
to the lockdown earlier this year, the Government made significant
changes to the operation of our railway network, which cost not
millions but billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. After being in
place for almost a quarter of a century, the Government announced
in various media outlets today that rail franchises are to be ended
and replaced by emergency recovery measures agreements.
In line with what seems to be common Government practice, at no
point, despite being asked on numerous occasions, has the
Transport Secretary, or any Government Minister for that matter,
come to the House to make a statement on any of those issues.
Instead, they have preferred to make announcements remotely
through media outlets and press releases.
Mr Deputy Speaker, given that the Government keep talking about
parliamentary sovereignty but seem set on disrespecting the
House, what influence could you bring to bear to stop such abuse
of the House and to stop the Government failing to make major
policy announcements to the House? What influence can you bring
to bear to ensure that the Transport Secretary comes to the House
to announce such major transformational changes to our transport
network?
Mr Deputy Speaker ( ): I thank
the hon. Gentleman for notice of his point of order. I note that
there is a written statement from the Secretary of State for
Transport on today’s Order Paper, which it appears may shed light
on the Secretary of State’s policy. It is regrettable that such a
major policy statement was made to the press before it was made
available to the House. Mr Speaker has always been clear that
such statements should be made to the House and that Members
should have the opportunity to question Ministers on their
policies. I thank the hon. Gentleman once again.
