Avanti Trains

Debate between Lord Davies of Gower and Lord Browne of Ladyton

Tuesday 27th February 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

I must confess that I am not aware of that, but it is something that I shall take back to the department and look into.

[Lord Browne of Ladyton (Lab)]

My Lords, why will the Government not just publish the contracts that we have with train operating companies? When I travel on Avanti back and forward, on every journey there is somebody in the carriage I am in who knows something about the contract, and I can tell you that the Government do not come out of any of those conversations well. Are all these contracts different for different train operating companies, so that they can compete with each other—because they do not seem to be? Why do the Government not just come clean and tell the people who are paying for all this nonsense what the contracts state that have been made on their behalf?

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

The Government are very conscious that it is taxpayers’ money; they keep that in mind. As to publishing contracts, again, that is something that I would have to take back to the department.