I apologise to the Committee and in particular to the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon.

I apologise to the Committee and in particular to the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon.

My Lords, I should first say that I am not buying any more cushions—I have bought enough cushions. Secondly, the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, referred to a discussion yesterday about the functions of Great British Railways. I will write to him with the views that I conveyed in a speech...

My Lords, I should first say that I am not buying any more cushions—I have bought enough cushions. Secondly, the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, referred to a discussion yesterday about the functions of Great British Railways. I will write to him with the views that I conveyed in a speech...

My Lords, I will interrupt the Minister, if I may. Of course, it is welcome that a paper has been published today, but I had no idea about this. In an hour or so, this Committee will be debating the long-term rail strategy, completely blind to this new paper. The...

My Lords, I will interrupt the Minister, if I may. Of course, it is welcome that a paper has been published today, but I had no idea about this. In an hour or so, this Committee will be debating the long-term rail strategy, completely blind to this new paper. The...

The publication today is designed to be helpful and I will refer to it in today’s discussion. Since it was only published today, my remarks will include those elements of it that otherwise might not have been available, had it not been published today.

The publication today is designed to be helpful and I will refer to it in today’s discussion. Since it was only published today, my remarks will include those elements of it that otherwise might not have been available, had it not been published today.

Before the Minister moves on, I will add to my noble friend’s point—and this is also aimed at the Whip. The danger for the Minister is that if we debate the amendments on the long-term rail strategy, as we will today, and then we study the document published today and...

Before the Minister moves on, I will add to my noble friend’s point—and this is also aimed at the Whip. The danger for the Minister is that if we debate the amendments on the long-term rail strategy, as we will today, and then we study the document published today and...

To which I respond to the noble Lord that I believe that the publication is helpful and that the remarks that I am going to make in respect of the debate on the group today—and indeed others—will help in any event and will replicate what noble Lords will find in...

To which I respond to the noble Lord that I believe that the publication is helpful and that the remarks that I am going to make in respect of the debate on the group today—and indeed others—will help in any event and will replicate what noble Lords will find in...

My Lords, on the question of steel, the Minister said that the amount of steel that is going to be subject to tariffs is relatively small—I think that was the expression he used. Is he willing, after this meeting of the Committee, to put in writing to members of the...

My Lords, on the question of steel, the Minister said that the amount of steel that is going to be subject to tariffs is relatively small—I think that was the expression he used. Is he willing, after this meeting of the Committee, to put in writing to members of the...

Moved by

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

78A: Schedule 2, page 79, line 2, at end insert—

“(b) protect or improve the environment or mitigating or adapting to climate change, or

(c) secure, maintain or improve the accessibility of railway passenger services, station services, railway infrastructure or rolling stock for disabled persons.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment...

Moved by

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

78A: Schedule 2, page 79, line 2, at end insert—

“(b) protect or improve the environment or mitigating or adapting to climate change, or

(c) secure, maintain or improve the accessibility of railway passenger services, station services, railway infrastructure or rolling stock for disabled persons.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment...

My Lords, I am not going to speak briefly. I am probably going to compete with the noble Lords, Lord Moylan and Lord Harper, in the length of my comments and the thoroughness with which I cover the amendments. I have put my name on all amendments in this group,...

My Lords, I am not going to speak briefly. I am probably going to compete with the noble Lords, Lord Moylan and Lord Harper, in the length of my comments and the thoroughness with which I cover the amendments. I have put my name on all amendments in this group,...

My Lords, I apologise to the Committee for the fact that I was not able to attend Second Reading. It is always a pleasure to go after the noble Baroness. I will speak to my Amendments 93, 111 and 313, on which I have worked with Peers for the Planet....

My Lords, I apologise to the Committee for the fact that I was not able to attend Second Reading. It is always a pleasure to go after the noble Baroness. I will speak to my Amendments 93, 111 and 313, on which I have worked with Peers for the Planet....

My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 129 in my name; Amendments 93, 111 and 313, which I have signed; and Amendment 130A, which has considerable overlap with the other amendments here.

Amendment 129 aims to maintain the contribution that Network Rail has made to nature recovery efforts over recent years....

My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 129 in my name; Amendments 93, 111 and 313, which I have signed; and Amendment 130A, which has considerable overlap with the other amendments here.

Amendment 129 aims to maintain the contribution that Network Rail has made to nature recovery efforts over recent years....

My Lords, I will briefly add my voice to Amendment 313, to which I have added my name. This is the first time I have spoken, so I thank the Minister and his staff for the very good meetings we have had so far.

This is incredibly important. My last two...

My Lords, I will briefly add my voice to Amendment 313, to which I have added my name. This is the first time I have spoken, so I thank the Minister and his staff for the very good meetings we have had so far.

This is incredibly important. My last two...

My Lords, I am delighted to support some of the amendments in this group. I am sure that we have all experienced the nightmare of leaves on the track, but by putting in place a number of the different targets, we also have to have a focus on maintenance.

The noble...

My Lords, I am delighted to support some of the amendments in this group. I am sure that we have all experienced the nightmare of leaves on the track, but by putting in place a number of the different targets, we also have to have a focus on maintenance.

The noble...

I will make a brief intervention. This is the first time I have spoken on the Railways Bill and I am generally extremely supportive of it.

I have listened with great sympathy to all the amendments put forward. I understand the motive of most of them, but I worry about the...

I will make a brief intervention. This is the first time I have spoken on the Railways Bill and I am generally extremely supportive of it.

I have listened with great sympathy to all the amendments put forward. I understand the motive of most of them, but I worry about the...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the short but well judged speech of the noble Lord, Lord Liddle. I think he will discover it is not enormously dissimilar to one or two of the things that I am going to say.

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the short but well judged speech of the noble Lord, Lord Liddle. I think he will discover it is not enormously dissimilar to one or two of the things that I am going to say.

I find that very reassuring.

I find that very reassuring.

From the little frisson I have created here, I hope I have not damaged the noble Lord’s reputation among his Labour colleagues by agreeing with him. I do not wish to do that. Noble Lords should wait for my remarks and see how in line they are.

I thank the noble...

From the little frisson I have created here, I hope I have not damaged the noble Lord’s reputation among his Labour colleagues by agreeing with him. I do not wish to do that. Noble Lords should wait for my remarks and see how in line they are.

I thank the noble...

My Lords, this has been a very interesting debate, and I congratulate the noble Baronesses, Lady Jones and Lady Willis of Summertown, on making strong points about the need for environmentally friendly policies to justify the ongoing construction and development of railways. As the noble Lord, Lord Harper, and my...

My Lords, this has been a very interesting debate, and I congratulate the noble Baronesses, Lady Jones and Lady Willis of Summertown, on making strong points about the need for environmentally friendly policies to justify the ongoing construction and development of railways. As the noble Lord, Lord Harper, and my...

My Lords, I have to say that I take great issue with what the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, has just said. It is perfectly possible to have sensible housing development that is wildlife friendly; indeed, we have to have that. I remember in my days of political campaigning walking around...

My Lords, I have to say that I take great issue with what the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, has just said. It is perfectly possible to have sensible housing development that is wildlife friendly; indeed, we have to have that. I remember in my days of political campaigning walking around...

My Lords, this group of amendments looks to consider the environmental impact of the railway and to ensure that Great British Railways take steps to meet climate change legislation, reducing the carbon footprint of the railway and using every opportunity to support the environment and indeed electrify the railway, whether...

My Lords, this group of amendments looks to consider the environmental impact of the railway and to ensure that Great British Railways take steps to meet climate change legislation, reducing the carbon footprint of the railway and using every opportunity to support the environment and indeed electrify the railway, whether...