I can indeed give the hon. Gentleman that reassurance. We had a number of productive debates in the Public Bill Committee on the issue. It is not in the Government's interest—and it is certainly not in CLRL's interest—to force the compulsory sale of land that is not going to be...

I can indeed give the hon. Gentleman that reassurance. We had a number of productive debates in the Public Bill Committee on the issue. It is not in the Government's interest—and it is certainly not in CLRL's interest—to force the compulsory sale of land that is not going to be...

I shall not trouble the House for long, but I want to be clear about the arrangements. When we discussed the Bill in Committee, we looked at the restrictions on the land that the Secretary of State could, in seeking to define that land which would be necessary for the...

I shall not trouble the House for long, but I want to be clear about the arrangements. When we discussed the Bill in Committee, we looked at the restrictions on the land that the Secretary of State could, in seeking to define that land which would be necessary for the...

Schedule 12 already provides for the granting of new land interests as part of a transfer of assets between or from public bodies. These are known as transfer schemes. The proposed amendments to schedule 12 will enable the simple grant of new land interests, such as a lease, to happen...

Schedule 12 already provides for the granting of new land interests as part of a transfer of assets between or from public bodies. These are known as transfer schemes. The proposed amendments to schedule 12 will enable the simple grant of new land interests, such as a lease, to happen...

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

The amendment would ensure that the Secretary of State and London Government can give an unqualified commitment at the start of the Crossrail project in relation to a potential future transfer of assets between Transport for London and the Secretary of State. Governance arrangements for the project currently allow that...

The amendment would ensure that the Secretary of State and London Government can give an unqualified commitment at the start of the Crossrail project in relation to a potential future transfer of assets between Transport for London and the Secretary of State. Governance arrangements for the project currently allow that...

This is a large group of amendments concerning the railway matters in the Bill, and it will take me a few minutes to explain them. The majority complete actions that were promised during the Commons stages of the Bill. The dozen clauses 23 to 34 were included in the Bill...

This is a large group of amendments concerning the railway matters in the Bill, and it will take me a few minutes to explain them. The majority complete actions that were promised during the Commons stages of the Bill. The dozen clauses 23 to 34 were included in the Bill...

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

Lords amendments Nos. 2, 28 and 30 give effect to the recommendations of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. Before I continue, it is appropriate for me to offer my gratitude to the usual channels, my right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the House and right hon....

Lords amendments Nos. 2, 28 and 30 give effect to the recommendations of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee. Before I continue, it is appropriate for me to offer my gratitude to the usual channels, my right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the House and right hon....

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

My hon. Friend will recall that during the mayoral elections, Ken Livingstone boasted that £40 billion would be spent on transport in London. Some of that would come from Crossrail, some from Thameslink and some from other projects. Can he assure me that passing responsibility to the ORR will not...

My hon. Friend will recall that during the mayoral elections, Ken Livingstone boasted that £40 billion would be spent on transport in London. Some of that would come from Crossrail, some from Thameslink and some from other projects. Can he assure me that passing responsibility to the ORR will not...

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's comments, but I fear that I may not be in a position to offer him as full a response as he as requested. I should be more than happy to write to him, but I hope he will accept my reassurances from the...

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's comments, but I fear that I may not be in a position to offer him as full a response as he as requested. I should be more than happy to write to him, but I hope he will accept my reassurances from the...

First, may I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for making available advance copies of the explanatory notes? I would like to take the opportunity to say how much we welcome the written statement of 14 July on the subject of publishing financial data in relation to Crossrail. He...

First, may I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for making available advance copies of the explanatory notes? I would like to take the opportunity to say how much we welcome the written statement of 14 July on the subject of publishing financial data in relation to Crossrail. He...

indicated dissent.

indicated dissent.

We expect full services on Crossrail to start in 2017. I expect to make an announcement before then about the structure of the franchise.

We expect full services on Crossrail to start in 2017. I expect to make an announcement before then about the structure of the franchise.

I genuinely thank the Minister. As he knows, I welcome and support Crossrail. Will he tell us when and how the talks and negotiations on the franchise operation will take place, and whether he expects to issue a regulation or statement?

I genuinely thank the Minister. As he knows, I welcome and support Crossrail. Will he tell us when and how the talks and negotiations on the franchise operation will take place, and whether he expects to issue a regulation or statement?

I am grateful for your guidance, Mr. Deputy Speaker. My hon. Friend's proposition was very tempting. I can tell him that the details of the management of the Crossrail franchise are not set in stone, and are a matter for discussion further down the line. As for the Barnett consequentials,...

I am grateful for your guidance, Mr. Deputy Speaker. My hon. Friend's proposition was very tempting. I can tell him that the details of the management of the Crossrail franchise are not set in stone, and are a matter for discussion further down the line. As for the Barnett consequentials,...

Will the Minister give way on that point?

Will the Minister give way on that point?

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

Crossrail Bill. Consideration of Lords amendments. Lords amendments considered and agreed to, the Commons being willing to waive their privileges in respect of Lords amendments Nos 50-56.

Crossrail Bill. Consideration of Lords amendments. Lords amendments considered and agreed to, the Commons being willing to waive their privileges in respect of Lords amendments Nos 50-56.