Speeches by Lightwood.

“Let me remind the hon. Gentleman that the Conservatives were in government for 14 long years. Now, the hon. Gentleman has the temerity to stand there and ask why we are not getting on with it. This Government are moving quick and fixing things. We are determined to work with Tracy Brabin as the Mayor of West Yorkshire …”

“I will bear the hon. Member’s contribution in mind and share it with colleagues in the West Yorkshire combined authority.”

“West Yorkshire combined authority has been allocated £200 million of Government funding for 2022 to 2027 to develop a new mass transit system, including £160 million from the city region sustainable transport settlement, and £40 million from the integrated rail plan. I commend the hard work and tenacity of Tracy Brabin…”

“The Secretary of State has met the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, to discuss the vital role that mass transit can play in delivering sustainable economic growth and housing and to improve connectivity to jobs, healthcare and education in the region. The Department is working in partnership with the West Yorkshi…”

“Chiltern’s business case assesses both like-for-like and enhanced capacity rolling stock options. Like-for-like offers similar capacity to the current fleet but more modern trains to deliver a better customer proposition. Enhanced capacity would enable Chiltern to run more services to relieve crowding. Both options are…”

“Officials will continue to work with Children Railways to support the delivery of its fleet renewal programme to improve passenger experience and drive sustainable growth across the region. Chiltern is exploring options to expedite its procurement of additional trains while following robust assurance steps to ensure th…”

“I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. Affordability is one of our six key objectives, so that prices, wherever possible, are kept at an affordable point that works for both passengers and taxpayers. We are supporting LNER to offer its Simpler Fares trial tickets between London and stations around Newcastle, …”

“We know that across the country people rely on trains to get to work, get to school, and see their loved ones. That is why we are relentlessly focused on securing improved services for passengers, along with better value for money for taxpayers. I thank the hon. Member for Woking for securing the debate. I am sure he a…”

“I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. If she would like to follow up with me in writing so that she can finish the rest of her point, I would be more than happy to pass it on. South Western Railway also offers innovative products that let passengers choose tickets that suit their needs, such as the Touch smartcar…”

“I agree, and I can assure my hon. Friend that in the very first week, when the Secretary of State took office, she summoned a number of companies to her office to hold them to account. They will be held to account, and we are determined to see improvements. Fares revenue is crucial to funding day-to-day railway operati…”

“I congratulate the hon. Member for Woking (Mr Forster) on securing this debate on rail fares, and all Members who have made contributions this evening. For the past 200 years, our railways have been at the heart of our transport network. During that time, they have played an essential role in enabling people to travel …”

“We are considering the benefits that have accrued as a result of the £2 bus fare and what steps we will take next. Of course, that will all form part of the spending review.”

“We are aware of concerns about the current legislative and regulatory framework and would be delighted to meet her to discuss that further.”

“We will be making an announcement soon on that expansion.”

“I need to make progress. The Bill alone will not remove all the challenges facing the bus sector, so the Government will take further steps to deliver more reliable and accessible bus services. Those will include giving local authorities more flexibility and control over bus funding, so they can plan for the long term …”

“As I said, it is important that local leaders get to decide—that they take back control of bus services, use the funding that is devolved to them and make informed decisions in their local areas. We want to learn from the experiences and build on the successes, and I look forward to announcing more information on the b…”

“I am just about to finish, but go on—I have given way to everyone else.”

“I pushed for that when I was in opposition, and we did some consultation just before the general election. We are busy looking at the feedback and will report on it in due course. Under the Government’s action plan for buses, we will step in and ensure that local bus networks provide more accountability over bus operat…”

“I thank the hon. Member for her intervention. We are committed to simplifying the plethora of different funding pots that are available for buses. We hope to deliver more long-term funding for local authorities and devolve to them the power to decide where the money is spent. The Government have set out an ambitious ac…”

“Very briefly.”