Victory in Europe and Japan: 80th Anniversaries

Debate between Lord Berkeley and Baroness Twycross

Thursday 20th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

It is really important when we have these commemorations not to drag over some of the old issues and enmities but to move forward. In previous answers, I have completely recognised the role of Commonwealth soldiers across the military, as well as those from other nations, and we will make sure that all nations are involved appropriately.

[Lord Berkeley (Lab)]

My Lords, one of the forgotten parts of the last two world wars was the role played by the railways in supplying logistics to the front. We spent a long time bombing them when we were attacking, but of course the Germans tried to bomb us as well. My father was in the Royal Engineers and spent a lot of time repairing the railways in France and Belgium. There is only one book produced about that—it was written by Christian Wolmar—but my main point in speaking today is that this is still the case in Ukraine. I commend Network Rail and my noble friend Lord Hendy, who was in his place, for giving so many spare parts and other help to Ukraine to keep the railways there working. It is just as important now as it was in the previous war.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that point, and wholeheartedly agree. I have mentioned my family, and my great-uncle was also in the Royal Engineers and would have carried out similar roles during the war—so I shall look out for that book with interest.

Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]

Debate between Lord Berkeley and Baroness Twycross

Committee stage
Tuesday 28th January 2025 Grand Committee

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)]

My Lords, if the noble Lord could wait until that particular group comes up, that would be appreciated. We are currently on the first group, which deals with Amendment 1 only. The noble Lord’s amendments will come up later in our proceedings.

[Lord Berkeley (Lab)]

My Lords, briefly, in looking at Amendment 1 and hearing the speeches on it, especially from the noble Lord who proposed it, I ask: what is the point of this amendment? It seems to me to be motherhood and apple pie and nothing much else. You can interpret the phrase “performance and quality” however you want—no doubt many noble Lords will link that phrase to some amendments that they will move or speak to later—but I really do not see it. Here is a Bill to improve passenger services and quality, clearly, but the noble Lord wishes to put in an amendment: Amendment 1. We will probably spend half an hour talking about it, but I hope that my noble friend the Minister has an answer as to why he does or does not like it.