Found: The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill is merrily making its way through the House

Found: Letter from Baroness Drake, Chair of the Constitution Committee to Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, on the Passenger

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to work with the Scottish Government to improve (a) rail and (b) ferry provision in (i) Fife and (ii) Scotland.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

Scotrail run rail services in both Fife and wider Scotland, and responsibility for these services lie with the Scottish Government. Similarly, ferry services are also devolved to the Scottish Government. This Government is, however, working to ensure public ownership across rail services. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill will ensure that ScotRail is kept in public hands.

This Government is committed to resetting the relationship with the Scottish Government to ensure we can work together to deliver for the people of Scotland on the things that matter most to communities, including on transport links between Scotland and the rest of the UK. I have already met with the Deputy First Minister on numerous occasions to discuss a variety of issues. My officials regularly engage with their counterparts in the Scottish Government, working with their colleagues in the Department for Transport, to identify opportunities for collaboration on improving transport and other services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any rail operators will be brought into public ownership before their contract expires.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill facilitates the Government’s commitment to bring passenger train operations into public ownership and enables the Secretary of State to commence the transition to public sector operation as current contracts reach their end date or contractual break point. This approach ensures that taxpayers will not need to compensate operating companies for ending contracts early.

The Bill does not exclude the possibility of terminating a contract before it expires if the train operating company defaults on its obligations, as set out in its respective National Rail Contract. National Rail Contracts are publicly available and can be accessed through the ‘Public register of rail passenger contracts’.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department plans to take to increase the accessibility of public transport for (a) people with disabilities and (b) other residents in Dudley.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth and we are working to address these issues and build a truly accessible and inclusive transport system that works for everyone.

I am committed to championing the rights of disabled people, putting their views at the heart of our actions. Ensuring accessibility for all passengers is at the heart of our passenger-focussed approach.

The King’s Speech announced that the government will bring forward legislation through a Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill and Rail Reform Bill, to improve the performance of railways by reforming rail franchising, establishing Great British Railways and bringing train operators into public ownership.

The Better Buses Bill will also put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs of the communities who rely on them. These measures will deliver benefits for all passengers, including disabled people.

Together these measures will bring benefits across the country, including to the people of Dudley.

Found: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill 2024-25: Lords stages and amendments

Found: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill: HL Bill 21 of 2024–25

Found: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill 2024-25

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: HOUSE OF LORDS Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 2nd Report of Session 2024–25 Passenger

Found: Reform progress As members will be aware, the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill is making

Found: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill third reading speech

Found: Today’s announcement comes as the government’s Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill continues

Found: The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill has been introduced to Parliament today (18 July

Found: Bill Pensions Schemes Bill Planning and Infrastructure Bill [some measures] Employment Rights Bill Passenger

Found: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill

Found: Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill ................................ ..........................

Found: Letter dated 18/10/2024 from Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill to Peers regarding issues raised in the Passenger

Found: Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that Scottish Rail Holdings Limited aligns with the provisions of the UK Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill.

Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Cabinet Secretary for Transport

As the Bill is currently passing through the UK Parliament, we do not yet know what its final provisions will be.

However the Scottish Government welcomes the objectives of the Bill as introduced, which we believe align with the policy of Scottish Ministers that a fully publicly owned and integrated railway will deliver the best service for Scotland. Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd. is required to follow this policy.