Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Martin Vickers and Wendy Morton

Thursday 19th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Wendy Morton]

It is always regrettable when we hear about disruption, because it is the passengers who really suffer from the distress and disruption caused. I just flag once again that it is this Government who have earmarked more than £16 billion of funding for passenger services since the start of the pandemic. That is equivalent to about £600 a household. This taxpayer-funded life support was the right thing to do, but it is important that we now get the right balance between what is right for passengers and what is right for the taxpayer.

[Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)]

Heritage railways are vital to the tourist sector, but they are struggling at the moment with coal supplies. Can the Minister give an assurance that she will do all she can to ensure that these heritage railways have access to the necessary supplies?

[Wendy Morton]

There are some fantastic examples of heritage railways up and down the country. I appreciate the importance of adequate coal supplies, and we will obviously keep that under close review.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Martin Vickers and Wendy Morton

Thursday 3rd February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)]

14. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of ticket inspection by rail operating companies.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Wendy Morton)]

The Government have consulted on changes to penalty fares to ensure that deterrents against fare evasion are effective and fair. Fare evasion costs other rail passengers and taxpayers, who ultimately subsidise the journeys of those who deliberately travel by train without paying the correct fare.

[Martin Vickers]

I thank the Minister for her reply, but my experience is that ticket inspection falls very far short of 100%. As she says, the cost ultimately falls on other passengers and the taxpayer. What further steps can she take to ensure that the companies bear the burden of their inadequacies rather than the taxpayer?

[Wendy Morton]

My hon. Friend makes an important point, and he is right to take this seriously. I can assure him that the Department continues to encourage train operators to prioritise revenue protection and ensure that revenue is maximised and fraud is prevented. He is right to say that it is the responsibility of train operators to follow Government guidance in relation to this.