Christopher Fraser, MP for South West Norfolk, in the House of Commons called for a debate to be held on the implications of a long-awaited Government report on the passenger railway.
The Department for Transport is to publish its High-Level Output Specification in July, with a particular focus on the reliability, safety and capacity of Britain’s railway network. Christopher Fraser has urged the Leader of the House, Jack Straw MP, to find time for a debate so that the report’s findings do not get buried in the long grass of the summer break from Parliament.
Speaking afterwards, Christopher Fraser said: “The Department for Transport’s report and its implications should be given the time they deserve for a debate in the Commons. The Leader of the House appeared sympathetic to my request for a much-needed debate on this issue, but time will tell as to whether the Government will follow this through. I know that the issues of reliability, safety and capacity are important to my own constituents, and to all of those who use Britain’s railways. For too long, the Government has hidden behind the forthcoming report in order to dodge questions about our railways. It is time that the Government answers questions about all of the issues surrounding Britain’s railways, not least the ones highlighted in the report.” |