Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Thursday 1st March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Karen Lee (Lincoln) (Lab)]

8. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the early termination of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

15. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the early termination of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise on (a) passengers and (b) rail services.

[Imran Hussain (Bradford East) (Lab)]

17. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the early termination of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Grayling]

As I have said in this House before, I need to do what is best for passengers and for the taxpayer. The reality is that since the transition, regardless of the fact that Stagecoach clearly got its numbers wrong, passenger satisfaction has risen, more people are being employed by this railway and it is delivering more money to the taxpayer. [Interruption.] That is the reality. Labour Members can say it is not true, but it is; it is a fact that they just have to deal with.

[Liz Twist]

I assure the Secretary of State that after three failed franchises and the experiences of a directly operated railway my constituents would much prefer a directly operated railway. Will he commit to providing a directly operated railway service, in the public interest?

[Chris Grayling]

As I have said, I am going to do what is best for the passenger and for the taxpayer. I am sorry that the Labour party does not seem to get this, but the reality is that passenger satisfaction levels are higher today than they were three years ago—that is what the independent research shows. Labour Members may not like it, but it is true.