Rewiring the State
Debate between Andrew Murrison and Louise Haigh(3Â weeks, 5Â days ago)
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Louise Haigh
My hon. Friend is right to champion that important development. I would be delighted to facilitate a meeting for him in No. 10 North.
Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con)
Will the First Secretary of State’s exercise in delivering democracy and local accountability and empowering local people include a look at large organisations that cannot be described as governmental or as quangos but that nevertheless exist firmly within the public domain, are established by statute, serve the public and are big employers, and in which the public have a direct interest, such as the National Trust? That is ripe for review—it is meant to be reviewed periodically—and it would certainly fall within the scope of the work she has been talking about.
Louise Haigh
I will take that point away. We have already made significant progress in our review on closing or merging arm’s length bodies, including NHS England and the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. We know that we need to go further, and we will close or merge those where that is justified as part of our plans to rewire Whitehall. I will write to the right hon. Gentleman on the issue he raises.
Rail Performance
Debate between Andrew Murrison and Louise Haigh(1Â year, 10Â months ago)
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Louise Haigh
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The strikes were costing us ÂŁ20 million a day in lost revenue. That is aside from the economic impact of people coming off the railways and not making journeys to work, to see friends and family or to visit other towns and cities. Settling the pay disputes that were pervading our railways has already paid for itself.
Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con)
What lessons has the Secretary of State drawn from rail networks in other countries about rail performance and safety, given that many of them are now automated? Will she make herself a heroine in the south-west by dealing at long last with the notorious Tisbury loop, west of Salisbury, which has added inestimable time to rail journeys to the far south-west? The situation could be resolved at very little cost.
Louise Haigh
I will look into the issue for the right hon. Gentleman. It may be that the Rail Minister has to make himself a hero; I will ask him to meet the right hon. Gentleman to discuss the matter.