Seaborne Freight

Debate between Lord Grayling and Karen Lee

Monday 11th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Chris Grayling]

This is the point: the Labour party wants to disrupt Brexit. It wants us to leave the European Union but will not approve the deal and does not want us to prepare for no deal, so it has no policy at all. Frankly, as I have said on more than one occasion, Labour is not fit to be an Opposition, let alone a Government.

[Karen Lee (Lincoln) (Lab)]

Did the Secretary of State’s decision to cancel the contract with Seaborne predate the letter from Arklow—yes or no?

[Chris Grayling]

No.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Grayling and Karen Lee

Thursday 24th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Karen Lee (Lincoln) (Lab)]

18. Following the collapse of the east coast main line franchise, will the Secretary of State make a firm commitment to Virgin’s previous pledge to deliver additional train services between Lincoln and London in 2019? They are essential for our local businesses.

[Chris Grayling]

Let me be very clear: it is my intention that the commitments to new services made in the Virgin Trains franchise are delivered. The hon. Lady will know, as I have told the House before, that there is an issue and has been for some while around the timing of some of those services because of problems with infrastructure improvements. I am putting Network Rail under as much pressure as possible to deliver those as quickly as possible. I give her and all Members who are waiting for these new services an assurance that I will make sure that they are delivered.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Grayling and Karen Lee

Thursday 1st March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Chris Grayling]

On the last point, I can give an absolute guarantee that that is the case; we have been making preparations for different eventualities for some time and there is a genuine alternative, if that is deemed to be best for the passenger and best value for the taxpayer. My ministerial colleagues and I are happy to talk to staff, but I would correct the hon. Gentleman on one point: the reality is that the independent assessments have shown a higher level of passenger satisfaction on that route since the change of franchise, not a lower one.

[Karen Lee]

I, too, wish to say a huge thank you to the staff who have been involved in keeping the trains running. As has been said, the current Virgin Trains east coast line franchise agreement will end three years early, making it the third franchise failure in about a decade. As someone who uses the line, I do not agree with the Secretary of State’s assessment of it. But will he recognise that there is a problem and see this as the perfect opportunity to bring the contracts back in house?