Thursday Volume 619 12 January 2017 No. 89 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 12 January 2017 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2017 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 437 12 JANUARY 2017 438 Paul Maynard: Devolution does not just occur within House of Commons Governments and within Whitehall, and between Whitehall and Scotland. A significant amount of operational devolution is occurring within Network Rail as we Thursday 12 January 2017 speak. A Scottish route within Network Rail that will have much more independence and freedom of action is being set up. I urge the Scottish Government and Scottish The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Members to engage in that devolution process, not least because the Scottish Government are co-operating with PRAYERS the Office of Rail and Road on the periodic review that will determine the output for control period 6 within Scotland. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP): A report commissioned by Transport Scotland showed that Network Rail’soriginal cost estimates Oral Answers to Questions for Scottish projects were unreliable. Does the Minister agree that, especially when projects overrun by hundreds of millions of pounds, those who commission the work should have the power to hold Network Rail to account? TRANSPORT Paul Maynard: I reiterate the point that with the new devolution settlement within Network Rail and the The Secretary of State was asked— growing independence of the Scottish route within Network Rail, there are ample levers available to Members here Network Rail and indeed the Scottish Government to influence how the Scottish route director delivers those infrastructure 1. Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP): What discussions projects. he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on further devolution of Network Rail. [908115] Drew Hendry: Why does the Minister feel that Scotland does not need a rail project capability based in Scotland 5. Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP): What discussions that is accountable to the people of Scotland? he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on further devolution of Network Rail. [908119] Paul Maynard: I return to how I started my answer and remind the hon. Gentleman that we had a lengthy The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport discussion about what was contained in the Smith (Paul Maynard): I met the Minister for Transport and commission. This did not emerge from that commission, the Islands in the Scottish Government, Humza Yousaf, so we are not taking it forward. in October last year. I welcome working together to improve services for rail passengers within the current Southeastern Rail devolution settlement. Peter Grant: I am grateful to the Minister for his 2. Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Woolwich) answer, but can he explain why the Government are (Lab): What plans he has to improve services for passengers happy to devolve responsibility for maintenance and on Southeastern rail. [908116] track operations on the Oxford to Cambridge line, yet they are so reluctant to devolve the same responsibility The Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Grayling): to the Scottish Government for Scotland? We will launch the formal consultation on proposals for the new Southeastern franchise in February. I hope that Paul Maynard: The point we have consistently made people across the franchise area will participate in it, is that there was no recommendation by the Smith enabling my Department and the team working within commission to devolve the whole of Network Rail to the franchise to make informed decisions about the Scotland. The Scottish Government can specify, fund specification for the next franchise, particularly regarding and procure for ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper. how we expand capacity for passengers. They can also specify and fund all major projects, and we are devolving the British Transport police. That Matthew Pennycook: Not only are my constituents of strikes me as a hefty menu for the Scottish Government all political persuasions disgusted by the manner in to be engaged with. which the Secretary of State has politicised this issue, but they have absolutely no confidence in his proposed Chris Law: I thank the Minister for his reply. The solution for the Southeastern franchise. A previous Reform Scotland think-tank published a report in attempt to merely involve Transport for London in the November calling for Network Rail to be devolved— design of Southern’s 2009 to 2015 franchise failed because perhaps the Secretary of State has read it. The Minister that did not involve its proven concession model for will also be aware that an ever-growing list of people suburban rail services, so can the Secretary of State tell advocate further rail devolution, so will he do the right us why on earth he thinks that repeating this failed thing and commit to a date for opening discussions with approach will deliver much-needed improvements for the Scottish Government on this matter? Southeastern passengers? 439 Oral Answers 12 JANUARY 2017 Oral Answers 440 Chris Grayling: There has been no politicisation of Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Mr Ken this discussion. This decision was taken after the Mayor’s Skates. Their positive and useful discussion recognised business plan was analysed across government, and the importance of cross-border transport and our after discussions with neighbouring authorities and people commitment to deliver improvements, such as the who know the route. The truth is that the Mayor’s investment we are making in the Halton curve. proposals offered no extra capacity for passengers but a whole lot of uncosted, unfunded promises. They also Ian C. Lucas: The investment by the Welsh Government involved a very substantial top-down reorganisation. of £43 million in the Wrexham to Chester line, mainly The approach we have chosen is the same one that we in England, will lead to a partial dualling of that line by have taken for Northern and in the midlands, which is April this year. What more will it take to persuade the to create a partnership to develop a franchise that will UK Conservative Government to match the Welsh work for all passengers in Kent and south-east London Government’s investment by investing in more transport to deliver the capacity that we need. infrastructure in that region, for which an unanswerable case has been made? Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): I support the Transport Secretary on that. My constituents in Kent are deeply Andrew Jones: The Government are already investing concerned that, for too long, London has acted as a significantly in our rail network—more than at any selfish city seeking to benefit itself at the expense of the point since the Victorian era. The Mersey Dee rail people of Kent and the other home counties. It is not taskforce has produced its growth prospectus—Growth right for London to act like a “Hunger Games”-style Track 360—and it is working with the rail Minister, my capital seeking to subjugate the districts. We need fair hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and rail services for Kent, Essex and the other home counties, Cleveleys (Paul Maynard). I understand that it is now and I urge the Secretary of State to carry on and to prioritising its objectives, and we will continue to work uphold his decision. closely with it. Chris Grayling: I assure my hon. Friend that I have Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): The case for reopening every intention of doing so. This is a partnership the station at Bristol Road, Stonehouse, has been well arrangement that brings together London, Kent County argued and firmly established. Does the Minister agree Council and my Department to do the right thing for that that is exactly the kind of initiative we need to passengers. It is interesting that the Mayor could offer enhance links between Wales, Gloucestershire and the no proposals to expand capacity on these routes. I south-west of England? intend to bring forward proposals that do offer expanded capacity for passengers on those routes. Andrew Jones: My hon. Friend makes a valuable point, and I agree with him. Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) (Lab): The Secretary of State’s leaked letter reveals that he reneged on the Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab): The Minister mentioned suburban rail agreement because of his obsession with the Halton curve; he will know that it is an important keeping services “out of the clutches” of a potential part of the cross-border links between my constituency Labour Mayor—those are his words. He has put party and Wales. Will he confirm that the project is on time, politics ahead of passengers and clearly prefers to see and tell us the date on which it will be completed? trains running late than running on time under Labour. Will he now agree to an independent assessment of the Andrew Jones: I will check the latest information and proposal by a respected figure outwith his Department, write to the hon. Gentleman, but my understanding is given yesterday’s revelations of conflicting commercial that it is exactly on time. interests, to restore credibility to the process and ensure proper consideration of the needs of long-suffering Damian Collins (Folkestone and Hythe) (Con): As passengers? the Minister knows, the Operation Stack relief lorry park is vital for cross-border transport links between Chris Grayling: I cannot believe what I have just Kent and the continent. The owner of Westenhanger heard from the hon. Gentleman. He talks about putting castle has been actively seeking a meeting with the party politics before passengers in the week when the Department for the past six weeks to discuss accessing Leader of the Opposition said that he would join a the compensation package that he has agreed with picket line to perpetuate the unnecessary strikes on Highways England, in return for which he will withdraw Southern rail that are causing so much damage to his application for a judicial review against the park.