Railways: East Coast Main Line

Lord Moylan Excerpts

Tuesday 20th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I will make sure that we follow up the comments that the noble Lord has made. It was my responsibility to be heavily involved when the timetable changes were introduced in 2017, and I would say that, overall, this introduction has gone exceptionally well in comparison to what was experienced in the past. Of course, there will be difficulties, and I will endeavour to get answers to the question that the noble Lord asks.

[Lord Moylan (Con)]

My Lords, it has turned out to be a livelier Question than I had expected. I am very grateful to the Minister for being here to answer these detailed questions about broken rails, particular services and so forth as she has today, and she has local knowledge as well, but will she or another government Minister still be here to answer those questions when Great British Railways comes legally into existence? She will agree, I am sure, that the Bill being considered in the other place removes Great British Railways almost entirely from parliamentary and ministerial scrutiny, with the only power left to the Secretary of State being to sack the chairman of the board. Is that really an acceptable way forward?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

We have had many robust debates through the passage of different legislation in this House and I look forward to continuing to do so. Yes, in answer to the first question, we very much do intend to be here to see through the development of the legislation. Of course, it is going through the other place at the moment, and I look forward to the debates that we will have when it comes to our side.