Transport Committee Statement on publication of draft Rail Reform Bill

Responding to the Government’s publication of the draft Rail Reform Bill today, Transport Committee Chair Iain Stewart MP said:  

“We welcome the Government’s publication of draft legislation on Rail Reform. Proposals to set up Great British Rail as a guiding mind for the rail sector have been broadly supported, and legislation to get these important reforms on track has been long awaited. The Transport Committee will soon launch an inquiry to scrutinise the draft Bill in detail and without delay. We will welcome views from across the sector, and will look to complete our work in good time before Parliament’s summer recess.” 

ENDS    

Further information   

• The Department for Transport’s written ministerial statement on the draft Bill can be read here.
• The Bill has been published in draft form by the Government to allow for pre-legislative scrutiny by a parliamentary committee, in this case the Transport Committee. Pre-legislative scrutiny generally involves the committee taking evidence on the merits of the draft bill (rather than doing line by line scrutiny), and reporting its conclusions and recommendations to which the Government will respond. This does not alter the later process for passing the Bill once formally introduced to Parliament.