Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Grant Excerpts

Thursday 12th January 2017 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP)]

1. What discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on further devolution of Network Rail.

[Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP)]

5. What discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on further devolution of Network Rail.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Maynard)]

I met the Minister for Transport and the Islands in the Scottish Government, Humza Yousaf, in October last year. I welcome working together to improve services for rail passengers within the current devolution settlement.

[Peter Grant]

I am grateful to the Minister for his answer, but can he explain why the Government are happy to devolve responsibility for maintenance and track operations on the Oxford to Cambridge line, yet they are so reluctant to devolve the same responsibility to the Scottish Government for Scotland?

[Paul Maynard]

The point we have consistently made is that there was no recommendation by the Smith commission to devolve the whole of Network Rail to Scotland. The Scottish Government can specify, fund and procure for ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper. They can also specify and fund all major projects, and we are devolving the British Transport police. That strikes me as a hefty menu for the Scottish Government to be engaged with.