Rail Update

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Monday 5th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I simply advise the hon. Gentleman, in all friendliness and candour, that he was only 43 seconds over his time.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

It seemed longer.

[Mr Speaker]

I do not know how long it seemed to the right hon. Gentleman, who is usually quite a patient fellow. Not everybody, I am afraid, is as succinct as the right hon. Gentleman, who has developed it into an art form, but the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown) must do better.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

We will start with one that I feel sure, from experience and precedent, will be very brief. I call Sir Desmond Swayne.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

How good is Lord Adonis’s memory?

[Chris Grayling]

I am not a doctor, but I know that there is no record whatever of any ban on National Express continuing to bid for franchises after 2009. I am sure that the legal advice then was the legal advice I have now. Whatever one may say in public, the reality is that no legal constraint was placed on National Express from further bidding for franchises.