Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Derek Twigg and Lord McLoughlin

Thursday 29th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

What recent discussions has the Secretary of State had with Network Rail regarding the electrification of the Liverpool-Manchester line that passes through Widnes and Warrington?

[Mr McLoughlin]

I think I need a bit more direction on what the actual question is. There has been electrification of the line between Liverpool and Manchester, which is very welcome. We now have electric trains running on that line and there will soon be more. If the hon. Gentleman has a more specific point, perhaps he would like to write to me.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Derek Twigg and Lord McLoughlin

Thursday 20th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

The right hon. Lady has written to me on this matter, and I have not only corresponded with the company concerned and other interested Members, including my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire (Pauline Latham), but visited the company. Anna Walker, who chairs the Office of Rail Regulation, has written me a letter showing how it will investigate the points that have been made by DeltaRail.

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

What proportion of the money that the Government are spending and plan to spend on the railways is being spent on schemes that were initiated or started under the previous Labour Government?

[Mr McLoughlin]

The schemes that have been put forward in CP5 have been approved by this Government.

West Coast Rail Franchise

Debate between Derek Twigg and Lord McLoughlin

Thursday 6th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

My hon. Friend is getting into the Christmas cheer a little early. He, along with my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard), have been vociferous in making the case for a service to Shrewsbury and other stops on the way. There is still work to be done, but I very much hope we can get that service by December next year.

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

I have not seen the report so perhaps the Secretary of State can answer this question. He refers to the risk capital that bidders had to put forward as a guarantee and says that Laidlaw said that Ministers were not told about the flaws after being given inaccurate reports. What questions did Ministers ask about the capital that bidders would have to offer to guarantee the bid?

[Mr McLoughlin]

I was not in those meetings, for obvious reasons, but I know that Ministers were constantly probing. Mr Laidlaw saw the former permanent secretaries at the Department—not just the present one, but the former ones—and spoke to former Ministers there too.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Derek Twigg and Lord McLoughlin

Thursday 18th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

In the light of that direction, Mr Speaker, I am not sure how to answer the question. I am responsible for what goes on at the Department of Transport, but if I moved on to the money that was wasted by the previous Government, I think I might need an Adjournment debate.

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

I welcome the Secretary of State and the new members of his team; I am sure that they will do a very conscientious job.

What has been the cost of the consultants and legal advisers employed by the Department in the run-up to the legal case?

[Mr McLoughlin]

I do not have the exact figures at the moment. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State answered some written questions on the matter yesterday, and a wide range of figures are available. The figures I gave in response to an earlier question are £40 million and £1 million.

West Coast Main Line

Debate between Derek Twigg and Lord McLoughlin

Monday 15th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab)]

I would like to quote what the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond) said on behalf of the Government in a debate on 17 September, just a few weeks ago. He said:

“The Department is confident that we have taken the right decision in the interests of taxpayers and passengers. We expect to sign the contract soon, but we intend to defend the judicial process robustly.”—[Official Report, 17 September 2012; Vol. 550, c. 236WH.]

Given that the Secretary of State has been in the job for only a few weeks, is he confident that the financial information that he is getting throughout the Department for any major projects—including the Mersey gateway project—is robust and can stand up to scrutiny in the future?

[Mr McLoughlin]

Yes.