Speeches by Francis.

“Apologies, I will return to that in due course.”

“I again declare my interest as chair of the all-party parliamentary group for wheelchair users. Amendment 62 appears to refer not to railcards but to all ticketing. As I have said, it would result in an increase for many tickets for wheelchair users and blind and visually impaired people. As the parent of a child who i…”

“If the hon. Gentleman looks at the clauses in the group, he will see that there are significant issues that the passengers’ council needs to take into account for all passengers, which come to the door and—as I know, having sat on a watchdog for four years—come in the form of casework and meetings. I am sure that I wil…”

“London TravelWatch is a large organisation, and I used to chair some of its casework committees. It deals with and reports on a huge range of issues and, like Passenger Focus, it deals not just with trains but with other modes of transport. I made recommendations on a range of issues. I remember making recommendations …”

“I do not think this provision needs to be on the face of the Bill. These issues already exist; there are examples where the passenger watchdog and the Transport Committee would be looking at the same matter. There would be examples with other Departments where an ombudsman would also be looking at something in a simila…”

“Does the shadow Minister accept that in recent years, when Transport for London was negotiating its fare settlements, the previous Government dictated the level of fares that should be charged not just for the congestion charge, but for passenger rail services? The Conservative Secretary of State and Government were do…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I will briefly speak to clause 18 stand part. At the outset, I remind Members that I am the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on wheelchair users, and one of my children is a wheelchair user. I do not believe that some of these details need to be se…”

“Last Sunday, I joined the congregation at St Augustine’s church in Slade Green to celebrate the retirement of Rev. Jim Bennett. Jim has been a long-standing pillar of our community in Bexleyheath and Crayford, having worked for Greenwich and Bexley community hospice for 16 years, starting as a fundraising co-ordinator …”

“I thank the hon. Member, who is advocating for her constituents. Within London, Transport for London operates at least four lines—the Elizabeth, Central, Lioness and Metropolitan lines—all of which leave the London boundary. They would therefore potentially enter the boundaries of strategic authorities. If the amendmen…”

“Too many young people with education, health and care plans are being kept on them until they are 25 years old due to the complexities involved in offering them the specialist support required to place them into apprenticeships or work placements. Will the Secretary of State therefore provide an update on the work bein…”

“11. What steps he is taking to help support young disabled people into work.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Alec. As a Member of Parliament for a London constituency, and as a former member of the London TravelWatch board who understands some of the passenger watchdog issues in London, it is incumbent on me to speak to some of the clauses. Of course, the GLA Act 1999 origin…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. For my constituents, in the period since the railways were privatised they have twice needed to be brought back under public ownership: once in 2003, when Connex failed, and again in 2021, when Southeastern failed. However, on both occasions, there was no im…”

“I am sorry, Sir Alec.”

“If my constituents travelled from London Bridge this evening and caught the 5.34 to Barnehurst or the 6.50 to Bexleyheath, in zone 5, those journeys would take 31 minutes, so do you actually believe that, under your guarantee, my constituents—many of whom, you would expect, would rather just get on a train and expect t…”

“The Department of Health.”

“I am requesting a Westminster Hall debate on the merits of establishing an independent national review body overseeing wheelchair provision. As a co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for wheelchair users, and as a parent of a wheelchair user, I have seen at first hand the barriers that many people across the c…”

“Thank you, Chair. Phil Brickell made representations.”

“Obviously I am open to that, and we would be able to expand on that. I am conscious of your queue as well. We are keen to start the debate. Our APPG will be coming out with our own inquiry over the coming months. We are also cognisant, as I say, that there is a separate health ombudsman inquiry regarding one provider. …”

“Q This question is predominantly for Michael and Alex, but others can come in. On the watchdog and current enforcement, I understand that under the new regulations, the enforcement power would go to the ORR. Could you expand on whether that is an improvement or a backwards step from the current arrangements? Many years…”