Railways: East Coast Main Line

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord McLoughlin

Tuesday 20th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I set off yesterday from Leeds and I was given the warning that there might be delays because of the overrunning of engineering works. Actually, it did not affect my journey at all. Quite frankly, with the sort of engineering undertakings that are happening, I am amazed that overruns do not happen more often. There is an enormous amount of work to do on the railways. It is obviously very disappointing if you get delayed and if there are cancellations, but everything the Government are doing is working towards improving rail services for the travelling public in this country.

[Lord McLoughlin (Con)]

My Lords, it is very encouraging to hear what the noble Baroness is saying. Can she tell us when these planned engineering upgrades that she is talking about were given the go-ahead, and when they were given the sign-off? I think she will find it was some years ago, under the last Government.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

It is my great pleasure to inform the House that the noble Lord and I have a very long and chequered history—

Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord McLoughlin

3rd reading
Friday 19th May 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord McLoughlin (Con)]

My Lords, it has been a privilege to sponsor this particular piece of legislation through your Lordships’ House. It started life in the House of Commons, led by Dr Liam Fox, Member of Parliament for North Somerset. In fact, it is the second Private Member’s Bill that Dr Fox has piloted through the House, the previous one being last year’s Down Syndrome Bill, now Act.

This Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill comes on the back of very personal experience that he has had within his own constituency with major infrastructure projects—in particular, Hinkley Point—and the problems caused to landowners when transmission cables are necessarily laid over their land. The Bill sets out an alternative dispute resolution—ADR—procedure. ADR is currently available but is not a legal requirement, and it should become a legal requirement. This is a small piece of legislation that rights a wrong. I thank Members of your Lordships’ House for their support and also thank the National Farmers’ Union.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My Lords, I will speak briefly to thank the noble Lord, Lord McLoughlin, for his explanation of the Bill. We completely agree with the need to improve the UK’s electricity infrastructure; we need to be able to expand the grid to enable new energy sources to come online. However, we emphasise the need for the correct balance to be found between the rights of landowners and infrastructure development.

As I laid out at Second Reading, we remain to be convinced that the Bill is necessary. Our concern here, if we have one, is that the Bill may hinder the Government’s plans to expand electricity network infrastructure. We do not want to see unintended consequences that could generate uncertainty among the business community.

However, with those comments, I commend the noble Lord, Lord McLoughlin, and Dr Liam Fox, the Bill’s sponsor in the other place, for raising this very important issue so that we can consider and debate it.