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To ask His Majesty's Government whether the fiscal devolution roadmap, to be published alongside the Autumn Budget, will include a weighting for rural sparsity and remoteness within the arrangements for the retention of business rates and income tax by strategic authorities; and whether those arrangements will provide for a minimum...
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the fiscal devolution roadmap, to be published alongside the Autumn Budget, will include a weighting for rural sparsity and remoteness within the arrangements for the retention of business rates and income tax by strategic authorities; and whether those arrangements will provide for a minimum...
The government is committed to supporting local leaders to drive growth and improve public services.
In the Cabinet Statement on ‘Rewiring the State’ the government committed to replace grants from central government with a share of local income tax for every mayor beginning in 2028, such that where a region grows its tax base, it benefits from the increased receipts. This will sit alongside greater retention of the revenue from business rates for local councils and strategic authorities.
At the Budget, the government will publish a roadmap setting out further detail on the design of fiscal devolution, and we will use the upcoming Spending Review to confirm the detailed arrangements for assigned income tax.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide for the appointment of commissioners in rural areas within strategic authorities that meet a defined rural population threshold such as 20 per cent; and what assessment they have made of the powers to be made available for that purpose...
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide for the appointment of commissioners in rural areas within strategic authorities that meet a defined rural population threshold such as 20 per cent; and what assessment they have made of the powers to be made available for that purpose...
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 enables mayors to appoint commissioners to support delivery within areas of competence set out in the Act. These appointments are discretionary and mayors are not required to appoint commissioners in relation to any specific issue or geography.
The Act includes rural affairs and coastal communities as an area of competence. Where a mayor considers it appropriate, they may appoint a commissioner whose work relates to that area and provide them with a locally appropriate brief reflecting the needs and priorities of their communities. The Government has no plans to require the appointment of commissioners in authorities that meet a specified rural population threshold.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to set out a time-bound and resourced route by which foundation strategic authorities may progress to the full devolved settlement; and what steps they are taking to ensure that areas without a mayoral strategic authority are not left with materially weaker powers...
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to set out a time-bound and resourced route by which foundation strategic authorities may progress to the full devolved settlement; and what steps they are taking to ensure that areas without a mayoral strategic authority are not left with materially weaker powers...
Our ambition is that every area in England has, or is in the process of establishing, a Strategic Authority by the end of 2027, with Strategic Authorities in place everywhere by the end of 2028. The Government recently wrote to all areas without a Strategic Authority seeking confirmation of their devolution ambitions, including their preferences regarding mayoral or non-mayoral devolution.
Where an area favours a non-mayoral Foundation Strategic Authority, and for existing Foundation Strategic Authorities, we will work with them on potential future mayoral devolution. The Government will not impose mayors on areas that do not want one, but we do consider that directly accountable mayors represent the strongest form of governance available, and so the suite of powers available to areas with mayors will be commensurately greater. However, we will consider what powers should sit at the Foundation Strategic Authority level, and recently government confirmed that Foundation Strategic Authorities will be able to raise an Overnight Visitor Levy in their area.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Dear Colleague letter on Introducing No10 North, of 1 September 2026, whether the policy of devolution by default will apply to requests for devolution by (a) principal local councils and (b) town and parish...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Dear Colleague letter on Introducing No10 North, of 1 September 2026, whether the policy of devolution by default will apply to requests for devolution by (a) principal local councils and (b) town and parish...
The Right to Request was introduced by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, and allows Mayors of Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities to submit requests for new powers and funding, and the Government then has six months to respond. This process is specific to the powers and funding for strategic authorities, and which levers over growth and public services need to be devolved down from Westminster and Whitehall.
As outlined in the Rewiring the State publication on 31 July, the Government will be working in partnership with local authorities and the community sector, alongside strategic authorities and other local partners, to develop our white paper on how the state will be rewired to ensure we are delivering good growth and public services in every postcode. Devolution is not just about transferring new powers to strategic authorities, and we are committed to strengthening the role of local authorities and communities across the country.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the additional administrative capacity required by local government to take on any new tax powers.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the additional administrative capacity required by local government to take on any new tax powers.
The government works closely with local government to identify the capacity implications of devolved powers. This includes the Overnight Visitor Levy where Strategic Authorities will be the tax authority responsible for the administration of the levy. Government will work closely with Strategic Authorities interested in using the power and will assess any financial implications in due course.
At the Local Government Finance Settlement, we confirmed a total of £99.6m of funding over the Spending Review period to support existing eligible Strategic Authorities’ staffing and administrative costs, and central corporate functions. Government will also set out further detail on support for MSA capacity and capability later this year building on the Rewiring the State Cabinet statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had discussions with the devolved Governments on adopting a consistent UK-wide approach to the diagnosis and treatment of PANS and PANDAS.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had discussions with the devolved Governments on adopting a consistent UK-wide approach to the diagnosis and treatment of PANS and PANDAS.
Further to the answer provided on 20 July in response to Question 18432, the clinical guideline remains in development through the PANS PANDAS Steering Group, under the leadership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The Steering Group brings together clinicians, professional organisations, families, and patient representatives, and as well as developing the clinical guideline, its work includes supporting education, research, and improved awareness of these conditions.
Once finalised, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence anticipates reviewing the guideline and, if it considers it to be of sufficient quality, will signpost to it on its website with commentary on its strengths and limitations. The guideline will also help inform any future awareness and education activity, including the training curricula produced jointly by regulators, royal colleges, and professional bodies.
Clinical decisions, including prescribing decisions, will remain for the treating clinician, informed by professional judgement, the available evidence, and relevant guidance. Each clinician is responsible for keeping that knowledge up to date. Integrated care boards, primary care providers, and National Health Service trusts are also expected to keep abreast of emerging evidence and guidance and consider it through their clinical governance arrangements.
There is currently no routine national data collection on the number of children and young people affected by paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS).
The Steering Group’s Research Group is progressing work to improve understanding of the number of children and young people affected. Applications have been made to the independent British Paediatric Surveillance Unit and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Surveillance System.
Information on research funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) relating to PANS and PANDAS is available through the NIHR Funding and Awards website. The NIHR welcomes applications for research into all aspects of human health, including PANS and PANDAS. The NIHR Funding and Awards website is available at the following link:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of devolution in England on equitable grant funding for English farmers in line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of devolution in England on equitable grant funding for English farmers in line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Agriculture is devolved. Defra administers farming policy in England, while the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive determine their own agricultural policies and support schemes. As part of this arrangement, funding for agriculture and fisheries was baselined and un-ringfenced in each devolved governments block grant from 2024-25.
The Barnett formula, which aims to give each country the same pounds-per-person change in funding, will apply to any future changes in UK Government funding from 2025-26 for agriculture and fisheries in the usual way. This is the normal operation of funding arrangements for the devolved governments. It is for devolved governments to allocate funding as they see fit and they are accountable to their devolved legislatures for those decisions.
The Government is acting in England to support farmers and give them clarity to plan and invest. The recently published Farming Roadmap and Farming Profitability Review response set out a range of short-term and long-term actions. These include investment in ELM funding, support for and investment in innovation and technology, and action to make supply chains fairer. The government has also established the Farming and Food Partnership Board, bringing together senior leaders from farming, food, retail and finance to drive profitability and strengthen food security. Defra continues to cooperate openly and transparently with devolved government colleagues on these frameworks – as well as ongoing policy development across the four nations - via informal and formal structures established under the Common Framework for Agricultural Support.
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to devolving the power of setting business rates to Northern Ireland as part of the government's devolution agenda.
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to devolving the power of setting business rates to Northern Ireland as part of the government's devolution agenda.
Non-domestic rates are already devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977.
To ask His Majesty's Government what powers they are considering devolving to local authorities.
To ask His Majesty's Government what powers they are considering devolving to local authorities.
Local authorities are central to the Government's ambitions for economic growth, public service reform and stronger communities.
As set out in the Government's Rewiring the State Cabinet Statement (here), we are committed to shifting power from central government to local leaders and communities, including through ensuring that powers, functions and resources are exercised at the level most appropriate to achieving better outcomes for people and places.
The Government has also committed to increasing the proportion of business rates retained by local government. Further detail on our approach to devolution and the distribution of responsibilities across different levels of government will be set out in a forthcoming White Paper.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Policy Paper dated 31 July 2026, Rewiring the State- Cabinet Statement, whether recent discussions about the role for Members of Parliament in local accountability could include the shaping of transport, housing, economic development, skills...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Policy Paper dated 31 July 2026, Rewiring the State- Cabinet Statement, whether recent discussions about the role for Members of Parliament in local accountability could include the shaping of transport, housing, economic development, skills...
The Rewiring the State Cabinet Statement committed to ensuring there is a clear role for Members of Parliament in local accountability, working with mayors and local councillors. Mayors are responsible for the areas of competence set out in the devolution framework and will have the autonomy to decide how funding is used to deliver for local residents in these areas. While Mayors will be accountable at the local level, as part of the Devolution White Paper, the Government is considering how MPs can engage with strengthened local accountability arrangements in relation to these responsibilities. Further details will be set out in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Policy Paper dated 31 July 2026, Rewiring the State- Cabinet Statement, what recent discussions has she had about the role for Members of Parliament in local accountability, working with mayors and councillors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Policy Paper dated 31 July 2026, Rewiring the State- Cabinet Statement, what recent discussions has she had about the role for Members of Parliament in local accountability, working with mayors and councillors.
The Rewiring the State Cabinet Statement committed to ensuring there is a clear role for Members of Parliament in local accountability, working with mayors and local councillors. As part of the development of the Devolution White Paper, Ministers and officials are engaging with a range of stakeholders, including mayors and local government representatives on the co-design and implementation of these reforms. Further details will be set out in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will introduce measures to grant Cornwall Council devolved powers to promote and protect the Cornish language.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will introduce measures to grant Cornwall Council devolved powers to promote and protect the Cornish language.
This Government is committed to protecting minority languages and granting Part III recognition to Cornish under the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages was a significant step in recognising and protecting a unique part of culture and heritage in the UK.
Consistent with the Government’s devolution agenda and its belief that local communities are best placed to identify and deliver the support needed in their areas, Cornwall Council, with the support of UK Government, is leading efforts to strengthen and promote the Cornish language. This locally led approach ensures that measures are tailored to Cornwall’s unique cultural and linguistic heritage, while enabling the language to flourish for future generations.
Following recent communication with all areas to understand devolution ambitions across England, we will be confirming next steps for devolution, including Cornwall, shortly.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the written statement of 1 September 2026, HCWS297, on bus fares, whether (a) devolved administrations and (b) London will receive any consequential funding as a consequence of the £400 million of government funding from the DESNZ budget.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the written statement of 1 September 2026, HCWS297, on bus fares, whether (a) devolved administrations and (b) London will receive any consequential funding as a consequence of the £400 million of government funding from the DESNZ budget.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement further fiscal devolution.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement further fiscal devolution.
The government has committed to replace grants from central government with a share of local income tax for every mayoral strategic authority from April 2028, and for greater retention of the revenue from business rates for local councils and strategic authorities from April 2027. In addition, all strategic authorities will be provided with the ability to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy, with mayors able to set out their plans from March 2028. Further details will be set out in a Fiscal Devolution Roadmap, to be published alongside autumn budget. Please refer to the ‘Rewiring the State’ Cabinet Statement (and attached) published on 31 July 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 18188 on Devolution, if she will summarise the 43 requests; and what the response was for each of those requests.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 18188 on Devolution, if she will summarise the 43 requests; and what the response was for each of those requests.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what taxation powers his Department is considering devolving to local authorities.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what taxation powers his Department is considering devolving to local authorities.
The government’s vision for devolution in England was set out in the joint cabinet statement, ‘Rewiring the state’ published in July. This committed to replacing grants from central government with a share of local income tax for every mayor beginning in 2028 and greater retention of the revenue from business rates for local councils and strategic authorities. Strategic authorities will also have the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy as a way to raise money to support growth in their regions, including the visitor economy. The long-term certainty of funding via taxation will provide more flexibility and enable greater investment to fund interventions that will deliver a return.
Lords second reading. Agreed to on question. Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
Lords second reading. Agreed to on question. Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
My Lords, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, I thank the Minister and his Commons ministerial colleague Jake Richards for the constructive and proactive manner in which they have engaged with me and colleagues on this Bill. I also pay tribute to my noble friend...
My Lords, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, I thank the Minister and his Commons ministerial colleague Jake Richards for the constructive and proactive manner in which they have engaged with me and colleagues on this Bill. I also pay tribute to my noble friend...
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for bringing forward his Private Member’s Bill. I do not want to start on a downer or with a spoiler, but I suspect that the Bill may fail to receive the support of the Government.
Either way, this Private...
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for bringing forward his Private Member’s Bill. I do not want to start on a downer or with a spoiler, but I suspect that the Bill may fail to receive the support of the Government.
Either way, this Private...
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for bringing this Bill before the House and compliment him on his unwavering defence of the YJB. I will focus my remarks on one particular issue at the heart of the Bill: the Government’s proposed changes to the Youth Justice Board....
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for bringing this Bill before the House and compliment him on his unwavering defence of the YJB. I will focus my remarks on one particular issue at the heart of the Bill: the Government’s proposed changes to the Youth Justice Board....
My Lords, I am no expert on youth justice and I am aware that I am surrounded today by people who are, but I support the Bill of the
noble Lord, Lord Oates, because I have too often experienced the results of a Government thinking that by transferring responsibilities in-house...
My Lords, I am no expert on youth justice and I am aware that I am surrounded today by people who are, but I support the Bill of the
noble Lord, Lord Oates, because I have too often experienced the results of a Government thinking that by transferring responsibilities in-house...
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for introducing the Bill and for giving the House the opportunity to consider, once again, the future of youth justice. The noble Lord’s intentions are entirely understandable, as set out in his opening remarks. We all want a youth justice system...
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for introducing the Bill and for giving the House the opportunity to consider, once again, the future of youth justice. The noble Lord’s intentions are entirely understandable, as set out in his opening remarks. We all want a youth justice system...
My Lords, I was encouraged by the Government’s White Paper on youth crime, which highlighted the relationship between complex needs and the experiences of youth justice. However, the increasing prevalence of such needs underscores the necessity of retaining the specialist expertise of the Youth Justice Board.
In my own diocese, I...
My Lords, I was encouraged by the Government’s White Paper on youth crime, which highlighted the relationship between complex needs and the experiences of youth justice. However, the increasing prevalence of such needs underscores the necessity of retaining the specialist expertise of the Youth Justice Board.
In my own diocese, I...
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for tabling the Bill, and I thank all noble Lords for their valuable contributions throughout the debate.
I start by acknowledging the position we are in with youth justice and the excellent work done by the previous Conservative Government to halve the...
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for tabling the Bill, and I thank all noble Lords for their valuable contributions throughout the debate.
I start by acknowledging the position we are in with youth justice and the excellent work done by the previous Conservative Government to halve the...
My Lords, I should begin by declaring my interest. Until March 2025, I was the lead non-executive director and chair of the agency board of HMPPS, which was responsible for youth custody services.
I very much regret that the noble Lord, Lord McNally, is not with us today. I had hoped...
My Lords, I should begin by declaring my interest. Until March 2025, I was the lead non-executive director and chair of the agency board of HMPPS, which was responsible for youth custody services.
I very much regret that the noble Lord, Lord McNally, is not with us today. I had hoped...
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for taking part in this debate. So many brought their unique perspectives to the discussion. I reiterate my thanks to the Minister and his colleague for having met with me and the noble Baroness, Lady Sater. I admit to being a little disappointed...
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for taking part in this debate. So many brought their unique perspectives to the discussion. I reiterate my thanks to the Minister and his colleague for having met with me and the noble Baroness, Lady Sater. I admit to being a little disappointed...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2026, to Question 14926, on MHCLG: Public Expenditure, if she will publish a table showing the revised CLG and LG CDEL allocations in each year of the spending review.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2026, to Question 14926, on MHCLG: Public Expenditure, if she will publish a table showing the revised CLG and LG CDEL allocations in each year of the spending review.
As set out in the answer of 14 July 2026 to Question 14926, departments have been asked to contribute 1p in every £1 of their capital budgets to fund this Government’s Defence Investment Plan.
Revisions to departmental capital budgets will be reported to Parliament through the usual estimates process.
The Local Government DEL budget does not include capital expenditure and therefore no Local Government CDEL allocation is held.
England is an international outlier in the extent to which decisions are taken centrally, and at the same time has experienced some of the highest levels of regional inequality in the developed world. We believe the two are linked. Too many decisions have been made in Whitehall, far away from...
England is an international outlier in the extent to which decisions are taken centrally, and at the same time has experienced some of the highest levels of regional inequality in the developed world. We believe the two are linked. Too many decisions have been made in Whitehall, far away from...
My Honourable Friend the Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth (Jim McMahon OBE MP) has today made the following statement:
England is an international outlier in the extent to which decisions are taken centrally, and at the same time has experienced some of the highest levels of regional inequality...
My Honourable Friend the Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth (Jim McMahon OBE MP) has today made the following statement:
England is an international outlier in the extent to which decisions are taken centrally, and at the same time has experienced some of the highest levels of regional inequality...
Don’t look at me.
Don’t look at me.
I shall not list them.
I shall not list them.
I think they include the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon.
I think they include the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon.
Some of the board.
As the noble Baroness says, London TravelWatch plays a vital role as the statutory watchdog for London, championing the interests of people who travel across all modes of the city’s integrated transport network. That is precisely why the Bill will strengthen its rail powers to ensure there...
Some of the board.
As the noble Baroness says, London TravelWatch plays a vital role as the statutory watchdog for London, championing the interests of people who travel across all modes of the city’s integrated transport network. That is precisely why the Bill will strengthen its rail powers to ensure there...
I thank the Committee for this debate; I would say “short debate”, but I spoke quite extensively and maybe comprehensively on this matter. I understand what the Minister is saying, but it would be helpful, even if he has to define it differently, to put London TravelWatch, where appropriate, on...
I thank the Committee for this debate; I would say “short debate”, but I spoke quite extensively and maybe comprehensively on this matter. I understand what the Minister is saying, but it would be helpful, even if he has to define it differently, to put London TravelWatch, where appropriate, on...
Moved by
Lord Bradshaw
54: After Clause 12, insert the following new Clause—
“Protection of rail funding settlements
(1) This section applies where the Secretary of State proposes to make a material change affecting an agreed multi-year funding settlement for the railway (“the settlement”), whether by—
(a) reducing the funding provided under the settlement,
(b) altering...
Moved by
Lord Bradshaw
54: After Clause 12, insert the following new Clause—
“Protection of rail funding settlements
(1) This section applies where the Secretary of State proposes to make a material change affecting an agreed multi-year funding settlement for the railway (“the settlement”), whether by—
(a) reducing the funding provided under the settlement,
(b) altering...
The amendment that I am moving is almost self-explanatory. I think that most people in the Room will have witnessed arbitrary cuts in expenditure on the railway. These cuts probably emanate from the Treasury but come through the Department for Transport, which says that it must cut 10% of rail...
The amendment that I am moving is almost self-explanatory. I think that most people in the Room will have witnessed arbitrary cuts in expenditure on the railway. These cuts probably emanate from the Treasury but come through the Department for Transport, which says that it must cut 10% of rail...
My Lords, I have two amendments in this group: Amendments 65 and 73. Rather than the broader issues of funding, mine are much more nitty-gritty questions about the transparency of the business plan and how the funding processes for Great British Railways are to work.
Amendment 65 is to Schedule 2,...
My Lords, I have two amendments in this group: Amendments 65 and 73. Rather than the broader issues of funding, mine are much more nitty-gritty questions about the transparency of the business plan and how the funding processes for Great British Railways are to work.
Amendment 65 is to Schedule 2,...
I never chastised.
I never chastised.
Oh!
Oh!
I would never dream of doing that. It is inconceivable that I should do that. I drew to my noble friend’s attention an email that I had received that said that he had made a mistake and that the Minister had also made a mistake. I gave no opinion myself...
I would never dream of doing that. It is inconceivable that I should do that. I drew to my noble friend’s attention an email that I had received that said that he had made a mistake and that the Minister had also made a mistake. I gave no opinion myself...
I thank my noble friend for that correction. He has shared the email with me. I think it is worth putting on the record the point,
made in that email, that it is important to distinguish between joint ventures on the one hand and corporate activities of companies on the...
I thank my noble friend for that correction. He has shared the email with me. I think it is worth putting on the record the point,
made in that email, that it is important to distinguish between joint ventures on the one hand and corporate activities of companies on the...
My Lords, we are now redebating what was debated the other day. However, since there was an element of confusion, the noble Lord has accurately characterised the difference in position between himself and the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb, but it was in the context of an important debate...
My Lords, we are now redebating what was debated the other day. However, since there was an element of confusion, the noble Lord has accurately characterised the difference in position between himself and the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb, but it was in the context of an important debate...
I think that was an intervention. I can only speak for myself, but I do not think I am confused now. The Bill does not inhibit this from happening in future and that is a satisfactory position for us to have reached. That is relevant to this debate in that...
I think that was an intervention. I can only speak for myself, but I do not think I am confused now. The Bill does not inhibit this from happening in future and that is a satisfactory position for us to have reached. That is relevant to this debate in that...
My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 54 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, and Amendment 55 in the name of my noble friend Lord Moylan. Obviously, I have not heard my noble friend’s exposition of the purpose of his amendment, which I look forward to listening...
My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 54 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, and Amendment 55 in the name of my noble friend Lord Moylan. Obviously, I have not heard my noble friend’s exposition of the purpose of his amendment, which I look forward to listening...
May I just say that three months’ notice is not a long time and any arbitrary cut cannot possibly take place in three months because timetables, trains and rosters have to be altered? Three months is a very short amount of time to give the rail regulator to make decisions.
I...
May I just say that three months’ notice is not a long time and any arbitrary cut cannot possibly take place in three months because timetables, trains and rosters have to be altered? Three months is a very short amount of time to give the rail regulator to make decisions.
I...
I am grateful for the noble Lord’s intervention. I had not yet started dealing with his amendment in detail—I was dealing with my noble friend Lord Moylan’s—but I listened carefully to what he said and will deal with it when I get to his amendment.
I am not sure that I...
I am grateful for the noble Lord’s intervention. I had not yet started dealing with his amendment in detail—I was dealing with my noble friend Lord Moylan’s—but I listened carefully to what he said and will deal with it when I get to his amendment.
I am not sure that I...
My Lords, what an absolute pleasure it is to hear from my railway expert noble friend Lord Bradshaw. It is such a delight that he has been able to join us in Committee in person today and to contribute to our debate, particularly after he had a significant birthday yesterday.
Funding...
My Lords, what an absolute pleasure it is to hear from my railway expert noble friend Lord Bradshaw. It is such a delight that he has been able to join us in Committee in person today and to contribute to our debate, particularly after he had a significant birthday yesterday.
Funding...
My Lords, I have a number of amendments in this group: Amendments 55, 56, 70, 78 and 86. I start with Amendment 78. Paragraph 15 of Schedule 2 states:
“Financial assistance given to Great British Railways or a GBR company”
primarily to enable it to carry out its infrastructure functions under Clause...
My Lords, I have a number of amendments in this group: Amendments 55, 56, 70, 78 and 86. I start with Amendment 78. Paragraph 15 of Schedule 2 states:
“Financial assistance given to Great British Railways or a GBR company”
primarily to enable it to carry out its infrastructure functions under Clause...
My Lords, briefly, the amendments from the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, on producing a business plan are absolutely essential because, as he noted, the railways need long-term investment. It is not just trains which need to somehow be ordered 10 or 20 years before they are needed but things such...
My Lords, briefly, the amendments from the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, on producing a business plan are absolutely essential because, as he noted, the railways need long-term investment. It is not just trains which need to somehow be ordered 10 or 20 years before they are needed but things such...
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for this debate on group 5 and will echo the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon: it is a delight to see the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, in his place this afternoon. I am sure that the rest of the Grand Committee wishes him, as...
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for this debate on group 5 and will echo the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon: it is a delight to see the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, in his place this afternoon. I am sure that the rest of the Grand Committee wishes him, as...
I start by saying how much I disagree with the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Harper. His idea that parliamentary scrutiny is carried out properly in the House of Commons is absolutely false, because the whipping system there does not permit a full and frank discussion such as we...
I start by saying how much I disagree with the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Harper. His idea that parliamentary scrutiny is carried out properly in the House of Commons is absolutely false, because the whipping system there does not permit a full and frank discussion such as we...
Moved by
Baroness Pidgeon
57: Schedule 2, page 70, line 15, after “services” insert “, including passenger services,”
Member’s explanatory statement
This amendment and two others to Schedule 2 in the name of Baroness Pidgeon would align funding of designated passenger train services with the five-year funding cycle for infrastructure.
Moved by
Baroness Pidgeon
57: Schedule 2, page 70, line 15, after “services” insert “, including passenger services,”
Member’s explanatory statement
This amendment and two others to Schedule 2 in the name of Baroness Pidgeon would align funding of designated passenger train services with the five-year funding cycle for infrastructure.
My Amendments 57, 58 and 61 are about aligning the funding of designated passenger train services with the five-year funding cycle for infrastructure. There is absolutely no point in bringing track and train together if their funding cycles are over different periods of time. For this new organisation to succeed...
My Amendments 57, 58 and 61 are about aligning the funding of designated passenger train services with the five-year funding cycle for infrastructure. There is absolutely no point in bringing track and train together if their funding cycles are over different periods of time. For this new organisation to succeed...
My Lords, I will speak on my two amendments in this group, Amendments 67 and 72. Amendment 67 is simply another opportunity, as there was in the last group, to explore and, I hope, again extract assurance from the Minister that the business plan and GBR’s statements in it will...
My Lords, I will speak on my two amendments in this group, Amendments 67 and 72. Amendment 67 is simply another opportunity, as there was in the last group, to explore and, I hope, again extract assurance from the Minister that the business plan and GBR’s statements in it will...
In response to the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, about the subsidy, the consequence of what he is suggesting could happen is that GBR could subsidise a passenger service that was on the same route as, and in competition with, a private sector operator. To me, that...
In response to the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, about the subsidy, the consequence of what he is suggesting could happen is that GBR could subsidise a passenger service that was on the same route as, and in competition with, a private sector operator. To me, that...
I am not sure if that is a question to me, but let us assume it is. I am not sure that I am saying that. I am saying that, as things stand under this Bill, the Secretary of State is not providing money to GBR for the purpose of...
I am not sure if that is a question to me, but let us assume it is. I am not sure that I am saying that. I am saying that, as things stand under this Bill, the Secretary of State is not providing money to GBR for the purpose of...
My Lords, Amendment 314 in my name, supported by my noble friend Lord Moylan, enters the arcane world of Treasury theology—what is and what is not public expenditure. It would require the Secretary of State to report on the impact of the Bill on public finances. This is important because...
My Lords, Amendment 314 in my name, supported by my noble friend Lord Moylan, enters the arcane world of Treasury theology—what is and what is not public expenditure. It would require the Secretary of State to report on the impact of the Bill on public finances. This is important because...
My Lords, it is difficult to follow my noble friend Lord Young of Cookham because his expositions of difficult issues are always so clear and compelling. There is a movement on the left wing of the Labour Party—which is well represented in your Lordships’ House—to nationalise the roscos so that...
My Lords, it is difficult to follow my noble friend Lord Young of Cookham because his expositions of difficult issues are always so clear and compelling. There is a movement on the left wing of the Labour Party—which is well represented in your Lordships’ House—to nationalise the roscos so that...
My Lords, Amendments 57, 58 and 61 are about the funding of passenger services. In principle, I support the intentions of these amendments and acknowledge the benefits to business planning that aligning the funding cycles could bring. However, the reality of passenger services funding is that it is inextricably tied...
My Lords, Amendments 57, 58 and 61 are about the funding of passenger services. In principle, I support the intentions of these amendments and acknowledge the benefits to business planning that aligning the funding cycles could bring. However, the reality of passenger services funding is that it is inextricably tied...
Is the noble Lord’s position that one of the consequences of this Bill, if enacted—we will not know for some months until after it is enacted—is that roughly £25 billion-worth of rolling stock could be added to government debt? I do not want to argue about the figure, but I...
Is the noble Lord’s position that one of the consequences of this Bill, if enacted—we will not know for some months until after it is enacted—is that roughly £25 billion-worth of rolling stock could be added to government debt? I do not want to argue about the figure, but I...
Since it is independent, nobody can predict the consequences of an Office for National Statistics examination until it concludes one. I said that the Secretary of State will work with it, because it will also need to consider the recent past. The Bill is in Parliament because it has cross-government...
Since it is independent, nobody can predict the consequences of an Office for National Statistics examination until it concludes one. I said that the Secretary of State will work with it, because it will also need to consider the recent past. The Bill is in Parliament because it has cross-government...
I am sorry to press the noble Lord. I agree that if the ONS is independent he cannot say what its decision will be, but he could secure that decision before the passage of the legislation. That cannot be too difficult. Given the consequence, it must be possible to secure...
I am sorry to press the noble Lord. I agree that if the ONS is independent he cannot say what its decision will be, but he could secure that decision before the passage of the legislation. That cannot be too difficult. Given the consequence, it must be possible to secure...
I already said that one thing the Secretary of State will do is to help the ONS with its understanding of both the recent past and what will happen as a consequence of the Bill. In the recent past, the Government have specified, to the most extraordinarily detailed degree, all...
I already said that one thing the Secretary of State will do is to help the ONS with its understanding of both the recent past and what will happen as a consequence of the Bill. In the recent past, the Government have specified, to the most extraordinarily detailed degree, all...
I have a question pursuant to the debate about the powers to fund the GBR business plan. I understand from the Minister’s reply, and it is a reasonable proposition, that the Secretary of State should provide financial assistance in relation to activities set out by GBR in its business plan....
I have a question pursuant to the debate about the powers to fund the GBR business plan. I understand from the Minister’s reply, and it is a reasonable proposition, that the Secretary of State should provide financial assistance in relation to activities set out by GBR in its business plan....
I thank the noble Lord. Since I managed in the end to have to correct myself after the last session on Tuesday, I would rather take some advice and write to him about this. I understand his point, but I am not sure I am capable of expressing an answer...
I thank the noble Lord. Since I managed in the end to have to correct myself after the last session on Tuesday, I would rather take some advice and write to him about this. I understand his point, but I am not sure I am capable of expressing an answer...
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his response and the fact that, in principle, he supports my amendments in this group as a goal to work towards. It is reassuring that he pointed out—if I understood him—that, within this legislation, there is the potential for a statutory instrument to...
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his response and the fact that, in principle, he supports my amendments in this group as a goal to work towards. It is reassuring that he pointed out—if I understood him—that, within this legislation, there is the potential for a statutory instrument to...
Moved by
Lord Lansley
59: Schedule 2, page 70, line 18, leave out “may” and insert “must”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would require the Secretary of State’s statement of objectives to include objectives as to the standards to be achieved in relation to railway services.
Moved by
Lord Lansley
59: Schedule 2, page 70, line 18, leave out “may” and insert “must”
Member's explanatory statement
This amendment would require the Secretary of State’s statement of objectives to include objectives as to the standards to be achieved in relation to railway services.
My Lords, I have two amendments in this group. Amendment 59 looks at the statement of objectives that the Secretary of State sets out for GBR and what is intended to be achieved over the funding period. The objectives, as we can see in paragraph 2(2),
“may include objectives as to...
My Lords, I have two amendments in this group. Amendment 59 looks at the statement of objectives that the Secretary of State sets out for GBR and what is intended to be achieved over the funding period. The objectives, as we can see in paragraph 2(2),
“may include objectives as to...
My Lords, it may be helpful to the Committee, since I have such a large number of amendments in the group and no one else who is present has any, if I speak now, and then it will be easier for the noble Baroness to comment on the amendments I...
My Lords, it may be helpful to the Committee, since I have such a large number of amendments in the group and no one else who is present has any, if I speak now, and then it will be easier for the noble Baroness to comment on the amendments I...
May I just interrupt my noble friend? I think he has moved on to the next group. We are on the group led by Amendment 59, to which I just spoke.
May I just interrupt my noble friend? I think he has moved on to the next group. We are on the group led by Amendment 59, to which I just spoke.
I beg the Committee’s pardon. May I subside?
I beg the Committee’s pardon. May I subside?
AI might have helped there.
AI might have helped there.
It would, yes.
It would, yes.
I will speak to my Amendment 82 in this group, to which the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, has added his name. It would create a new board of Great British Railways, and it provides detail of the composition of this board. The board would increase the transparency and accountability of...
I will speak to my Amendment 82 in this group, to which the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, has added his name. It would create a new board of Great British Railways, and it provides detail of the composition of this board. The board would increase the transparency and accountability of...
I beg the Committee’s pardon: I got slightly muddled because of changes to the groupings.
I come to my Amendments 60, 64A, 83, 84, 87, 94, 124, 125 and 291. The central issue running through these amendments is accountability. We are creating an enormous, new, publicly owned organisation that will, in...
I beg the Committee’s pardon: I got slightly muddled because of changes to the groupings.
I come to my Amendments 60, 64A, 83, 84, 87, 94, 124, 125 and 291. The central issue running through these amendments is accountability. We are creating an enormous, new, publicly owned organisation that will, in...
My Lords, let me turn to Amendments 94, 124, 125 and 291. I am pleased to say that I agree with many of the performance indicators set out in the noble Lord’s amendments, which will be important in GBR delivering the service the public expect. I also agree with the...
My Lords, let me turn to Amendments 94, 124, 125 and 291. I am pleased to say that I agree with many of the performance indicators set out in the noble Lord’s amendments, which will be important in GBR delivering the service the public expect. I also agree with the...
Forgive me for interrupting. I cannot find where it is required that there be an annual business plan. I can see there is a provision for the business plan to be kept up to date, but nothing that says this has to be done at any specific time or on...
Forgive me for interrupting. I cannot find where it is required that there be an annual business plan. I can see there is a provision for the business plan to be kept up to date, but nothing that says this has to be done at any specific time or on...
Let me come to that point. I believe that there is a provision, but before I say so, let me check.
The long-term rail strategy is designed to provide ministerial direction on the long-term trends that will affect the railways and, at a high level, what they expect GBR to do...
Let me come to that point. I believe that there is a provision, but before I say so, let me check.
The long-term rail strategy is designed to provide ministerial direction on the long-term trends that will affect the railways and, at a high level, what they expect GBR to do...
Can I be absolutely clear about that? The Minister is saying that GBR should set its own KPIs. The ORR may look at them and comment but, having heard the comments, GBR will set its own KPIs and amend them, or not, as it sees fit. That is the plan.
Can I be absolutely clear about that? The Minister is saying that GBR should set its own KPIs. The ORR may look at them and comment but, having heard the comments, GBR will set its own KPIs and amend them, or not, as it sees fit. That is the plan.
The long-term rail strategy will set out the Secretary of State’s expectations. The business plan will set out what GBR believes it can achieve to move towards the long-term rail strategy. The business plan has to be agreed with the Secretary of State, who might well disagree with some of...
The long-term rail strategy will set out the Secretary of State’s expectations. The business plan will set out what GBR believes it can achieve to move towards the long-term rail strategy. The business plan has to be agreed with the Secretary of State, who might well disagree with some of...
Surely there is, between the long-term rail strategy and the business plan, the statement of objectives. Surely the question, which I think my noble friend through his amendments has explored quite positively, is that the statement of objectives needs to be quite specific. Some of them need to be performance...
Surely there is, between the long-term rail strategy and the business plan, the statement of objectives. Surely the question, which I think my noble friend through his amendments has explored quite positively, is that the statement of objectives needs to be quite specific. Some of them need to be performance...
I have to say to the noble Lord that I do not see the difference, in the sense that the long-term rail strategy must express the Secretary of State’s desire, for example, for a reliable railway in terms that enable the business plan to set out the measures that would...
I have to say to the noble Lord that I do not see the difference, in the sense that the long-term rail strategy must express the Secretary of State’s desire, for example, for a reliable railway in terms that enable the business plan to set out the measures that would...
Forgive me, but I do not see it as a conflict at all. I am expressing, as I think the Minister has done on a previous occasion, that there is a difference between what is long term and what needs to happen this year, next year and indeed, for the...
Forgive me, but I do not see it as a conflict at all. I am expressing, as I think the Minister has done on a previous occasion, that there is a difference between what is long term and what needs to happen this year, next year and indeed, for the...
The noble Lord is right, actually: I am beginning to confuse myself about this. There is a danger of getting into too great a specificity. He is right that the statement of objectives will include specific standards, but that translates into the business plan.
The noble Lord is right, actually: I am beginning to confuse myself about this. There is a danger of getting into too great a specificity. He is right that the statement of objectives will include specific standards, but that translates into the business plan.
My Lords, before the noble Lord sits down, referring to the discussion we have had on KPIs, it occurs to me that there needs to be some differentiation between the list—whether it is the list produced by the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, the list in the Bill or another one—of...
My Lords, before the noble Lord sits down, referring to the discussion we have had on KPIs, it occurs to me that there needs to be some differentiation between the list—whether it is the list produced by the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, the list in the Bill or another one—of...
My noble friend is right that some of these KPIs relate to wider economic circumstances than the railway currently has, but we discussed on the first day in Committee the fact that the need for a long-term freight target is so that GBR focuses on its own part in growing...
My noble friend is right that some of these KPIs relate to wider economic circumstances than the railway currently has, but we discussed on the first day in Committee the fact that the need for a long-term freight target is so that GBR focuses on its own part in growing...
Where does it say the CEO is the accounting officer?
Where does it say the CEO is the accounting officer?
What I would say to the noble Lord about all these things is that we are setting this organisation up and, conventionally, it is the chair and the board that support, hire and fire the chief executive. I do not believe that his amendment is the right way of doing...
What I would say to the noble Lord about all these things is that we are setting this organisation up and, conventionally, it is the chair and the board that support, hire and fire the chief executive. I do not believe that his amendment is the right way of doing...
My Lords, the Bill should be amended to say that the business plan is annual, especially as that is the Government’s clear intention. The Minister has just said the business plan is going to be annual and it was precisely to get stakeholder engagement with business away from the annual...
My Lords, the Bill should be amended to say that the business plan is annual, especially as that is the Government’s clear intention. The Minister has just said the business plan is going to be annual and it was precisely to get stakeholder engagement with business away from the annual...
I think I understand what the noble Lord is saying. I am expecting an organisation, as GBR will be, to be constantly in discussion with the wider railway industry and the supply industry, and indeed its customers, simply because, as we have discussed, the market will change over time. I...
I think I understand what the noble Lord is saying. I am expecting an organisation, as GBR will be, to be constantly in discussion with the wider railway industry and the supply industry, and indeed its customers, simply because, as we have discussed, the market will change over time. I...
The Minister has just changed the story. A moment ago, he was saying that engagement with business stakeholders would be through the business plan. Now he is saying that it is not actually through the business plan once a year—because anyway, we do not know it is going to be...
The Minister has just changed the story. A moment ago, he was saying that engagement with business stakeholders would be through the business plan. Now he is saying that it is not actually through the business plan once a year—because anyway, we do not know it is going to be...
I agree with the noble Lord that the supply chain is crucial. Actually, for much of the supply chain, what really makes a difference is the five-year periodic settlement. That highlights the need for this engagement to go on, both at the time when the five-year plan is formed and...
I agree with the noble Lord that the supply chain is crucial. Actually, for much of the supply chain, what really makes a difference is the five-year periodic settlement. That highlights the need for this engagement to go on, both at the time when the five-year plan is formed and...
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who took part in this interesting debate. To my mind, we established one or two rather important propositions.
The first is that, when the Government are setting out their statement of objectives, in relation to which GBR writes its business plan, it would be...
My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who took part in this interesting debate. To my mind, we established one or two rather important propositions.
The first is that, when the Government are setting out their statement of objectives, in relation to which GBR writes its business plan, it would be...
If I may intervene on the noble Lord, for once, I say to him: welcome to the five-year funding periods. We are now in control period 7, I think. The process that was described is complex, but it works remarkably well, which is why the industry and the Government are...
If I may intervene on the noble Lord, for once, I say to him: welcome to the five-year funding periods. We are now in control period 7, I think. The process that was described is complex, but it works remarkably well, which is why the industry and the Government are...
I take that point, but, of course, that is if the financial assistance under this is restricted to infrastructure, which we debated a short while ago. If there is a requirement to notify of the financial assistance, I do not see it at the moment. The Minister might have a...
I take that point, but, of course, that is if the financial assistance under this is restricted to infrastructure, which we debated a short while ago. If there is a requirement to notify of the financial assistance, I do not see it at the moment. The Minister might have a...
Lords committee stage second day. Clauses 5 to 11 agreed to. Schedule 1 agreed to. Clause 12 agreed to. Schedule 2 under consideration.
Lords committee stage second day. Clauses 5 to 11 agreed to. Schedule 1 agreed to. Clause 12 agreed to. Schedule 2 under consideration.
Moved by
Baroness Pidgeon
22A: Clause 5, page 4, line 5, leave out “may” and insert “must”
Moved by
Baroness Pidgeon
22A: Clause 5, page 4, line 5, leave out “may” and insert “must”
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, had hoped to be here today but found himself with other commitments, and therefore asked me to move his Amendment 22A, which I also support. This is a probing amendment on whether the provision in the Bill which enables Great British Railways to...
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, had hoped to be here today but found himself with other commitments, and therefore asked me to move his Amendment 22A, which I also support. This is a probing amendment on whether the provision in the Bill which enables Great British Railways to...
I think it might fall to me to speak next, if my noble friend does not want to speak to his amendments at this stage.
I think it might fall to me to speak next, if my noble friend does not want to speak to his amendments at this stage.