(Brighton, Kemptown)
(Lab/Co-op): It has been three years since we were told
that Great British
Railways would happen. In my reading of the NAO
report, it says that the £1.5 billion of savings will not be met
in time. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport
Workers says that another half billion could be achieved if we
removed the profit motive from the railways, where a huge amount
is wasted on shareholders. When will the Government progress on
GBR and when will we get a date for its
implementation? Is it not time for them to bite the bullet and
renationalise our railways, as we have done successfully with
several lines?
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (): At the heart of rail reform is integrating track
and train. I am very pleased that the Transport Committee has
taken on the role of being the pre-legislative scrutiny Committee
for the draft Rail Reform Bill, and is now scrutinising that
legislation. The cut-off date for evidence is next Wednesday, if
the hon. Gentleman would like to put his suggestions forward. I
hope that the Committee will complete its report by July; the
Government will have two months to respond to the
recommendations, and if we have cross-party support for an
integrated rail body that brings track and train together, I hope
we will be able to bring in legislation to that effect, and
improve rail services for everyone.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP): I start by thanking Alex Hynes for having done a
fantastic job running Scotland’s Railway for seven years. He is
departing to become the director general of rail at the
Department for Transport, where he will help steer rail reform.
And what a job he has! As we have heard, the National Audit
Office said that rail reform was not on track. Not only are there
£1.5 billion a year in lost savings, but the Department has
failed to make planned savings of £4.1 billion from workforce
reforms and the establishment of Great British
Railways Cuts of £4.1 billion to the transport
budget were nevertheless announced by the Chancellor two weeks
ago. Does the Minister agree that his Government are unable to
make savings, but all too willing to make cuts?
: No, I do not. I am delighted at the appointment of
Alex Hynes, who will become a director general in the Department
for Transport. He will put track and train together in the
Department, and that departmental section will move out to
Great British
Railways once the legislation is put in place, so I
do not agree at all. The appointment demonstrates that we are
getting on with rail reform by appointing the right staff, and we
have started on the legislative path.
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(Con): What steps he is taking to improve rail services.
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (): Officials and I are focusing on improving rail
services in the short and long term. This week, I brought
together representatives from across the rail industry for a
leaders in rail session to discuss how, collectively, we can make
changes to deliver a better passenger experience. Longer term, we
remain committed to bringing track and train back together under
Great British
Railways and to continuing to build on the £100
billion of investment since 2010.
