To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent the differential in farm payments between farmers in England and those in Scotland is affecting the competitive position of the former.

To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent the differential in farm payments between farmers in England and those in Scotland is affecting the competitive position of the former.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Note 27 of her Department’s 2025/26 annual accounts, what estimate she has made of the level of public subsidy to rail services in each of the next five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Note 27 of her Department’s 2025/26 annual accounts, what estimate she has made of the level of public subsidy to rail services in each of the next five years.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of public subsidy provided to the Bee Network in Greater Manchester.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of public subsidy provided to the Bee Network in Greater Manchester.

I am keen not to be seen as a support act to the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, although some of my remarks might echo points that he made in the previous group.

Amendment 15 would place on Great British Railways a duty to act as a single employer for the staff...

I am keen not to be seen as a support act to the noble Lord, Lord Moylan, although some of my remarks might echo points that he made in the previous group.

Amendment 15 would place on Great British Railways a duty to act as a single employer for the staff...

My Lords, I will principally refer to my Amendment 19 in this group. I apologise to the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Brixton, that I am not really in a position to comment on the points he makes,

but I think the discussion we had previously about the corporate and...

My Lords, I will principally refer to my Amendment 19 in this group. I apologise to the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Brixton, that I am not really in a position to comment on the points he makes,

but I think the discussion we had previously about the corporate and...

My Lords, I welcome these probing amendments and look forward to the Minister’s response to some very important general issues. It is right that the staff in all the operating companies that will be affected by this should have an early idea from the Government about what is planned for...

My Lords, I welcome these probing amendments and look forward to the Minister’s response to some very important general issues. It is right that the staff in all the operating companies that will be affected by this should have an early idea from the Government about what is planned for...

My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 305 in this group. Noble Lords may think that Amendment 305 is a long way away from where we started in this group, but it is here. My amendment refers to Clause 87, which provides for a charge for removing road vehicles from...

My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 305 in this group. Noble Lords may think that Amendment 305 is a long way away from where we started in this group, but it is here. My amendment refers to Clause 87, which provides for a charge for removing road vehicles from...

My Lords, I will start by referring to the amendment that the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, talked to, because it just so happened that, as I was travelling to London yesterday, a car struck a bridge at Burnham. I see that the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner, is nodding; perhaps he...

My Lords, I will start by referring to the amendment that the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, talked to, because it just so happened that, as I was travelling to London yesterday, a car struck a bridge at Burnham. I see that the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner, is nodding; perhaps he...

My Lords, my Amendments 20 and 110 would require Great British Railways to increase passengers on the railways and to set a passenger target, rather like the freight target, which has just been referred to. One could easily argue that this is not necessary, as any Government will want the...

My Lords, my Amendments 20 and 110 would require Great British Railways to increase passengers on the railways and to set a passenger target, rather like the freight target, which has just been referred to. One could easily argue that this is not necessary, as any Government will want the...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for these amendments and the noble Lords, Lord Redwood and Lord Harper, for their contributions.

I start with Amendment 7, which would introduce a purpose for GBR into the Bill. The Bill already provides a purpose for GBR, just as we promised the Liberal Democrats...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for these amendments and the noble Lords, Lord Redwood and Lord Harper, for their contributions.

I start with Amendment 7, which would introduce a purpose for GBR into the Bill. The Bill already provides a purpose for GBR, just as we promised the Liberal Democrats...

My Lords, if the Minister would be so good, this really is very important. I did not think he would adopt that approach, but it is one of the two approaches I offered him, and he has chosen to adopt that which says that this is essentially hierarchical, so that...

My Lords, if the Minister would be so good, this really is very important. I did not think he would adopt that approach, but it is one of the two approaches I offered him, and he has chosen to adopt that which says that this is essentially hierarchical, so that...

I thank the noble Lord for that. I am at least clear about this. The functions are more like powers; the duties are the things that GBR must do when doing the functions, but it is not limited to those general functions. Indeed, we have already discussed quite extensively what...

I thank the noble Lord for that. I am at least clear about this. The functions are more like powers; the duties are the things that GBR must do when doing the functions, but it is not limited to those general functions. Indeed, we have already discussed quite extensively what...

My Lords, my noble friend is talking about standards created by GBR. Can he explain the relationship between what GBR does and the Rail Safety and Standards Board?

My Lords, my noble friend is talking about standards created by GBR. Can he explain the relationship between what GBR does and the Rail Safety and Standards Board?

I thank my noble friend. I think I can. The RSSB, the Rail Safety and Standards Board, creates standards applicable across the railway generally on some subjects, whereas there are a number of more technical standards—for example, for pieces of machinery, trains and railway infrastructure—which GBR, as a successor to...

I thank my noble friend. I think I can. The RSSB, the Rail Safety and Standards Board, creates standards applicable across the railway generally on some subjects, whereas there are a number of more technical standards—for example, for pieces of machinery, trains and railway infrastructure—which GBR, as a successor to...

That just begs the question of why in Clause 70—perhaps we can discuss it before we arrive at that point—Great British Railways has been taken out of the definition of being an infrastructure manager for the purposes of access rights under the 2000 regulations.

While I have the Committee’s attention for...

That just begs the question of why in Clause 70—perhaps we can discuss it before we arrive at that point—Great British Railways has been taken out of the definition of being an infrastructure manager for the purposes of access rights under the 2000 regulations.

While I have the Committee’s attention for...

It is not very well drafted at all, is it?

It is not very well drafted at all, is it?

I refute that comment, for the avoidance of doubt and for the record.

The noble Lord is correct. It is an important distinction. As I said, let me meet him on that. He referred to Clause 70. I am not equipped to go into that just now, as he will appreciate,...

I refute that comment, for the avoidance of doubt and for the record.

The noble Lord is correct. It is an important distinction. As I said, let me meet him on that. He referred to Clause 70. I am not equipped to go into that just now, as he will appreciate,...

Before the noble Lord moves on, he has not really addressed the point that I made, which is that in Clause 18 there is a perverse incentive that somebody coming in with a different mindset from many of us in this Room could reduce the frequency of trains and hike...

Before the noble Lord moves on, he has not really addressed the point that I made, which is that in Clause 18 there is a perverse incentive that somebody coming in with a different mindset from many of us in this Room could reduce the frequency of trains and hike...

The obligations placed on GBR by the long-term rail strategy, and the consequent approval by the Secretary of State of the business plan, should adequately deter Great British Railways from seeking to achieve that by diminishing services. Indeed, there was an example in the franchising era of the Government being...

The obligations placed on GBR by the long-term rail strategy, and the consequent approval by the Secretary of State of the business plan, should adequately deter Great British Railways from seeking to achieve that by diminishing services. Indeed, there was an example in the franchising era of the Government being...