Railways: East Coast Main Line

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Viscount Stansgate

Tuesday 20th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Stansgate]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of capacity on the East Coast Main Line.

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)]

My Lords, the December 2025 timetable has provided more than 60,000 extra seats across the east coast main line each week, with faster services between London and Edinburgh and a third train per hour between London and Newcastle. Network Rail is leading development of a long-term strategy for the route, which will incorporate this Government’s plan for Northern Powerhouse Rail, which was announced last week, and the commitment to develop a business case for opportunities provided by the Leamside line.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that encouraging Answer. It is encouraging to hear the progress being made, just as it was to hear a reference to the Leamside line last night in the Statement on Northern Powerhouse Rail. Does my noble friend agree that the progress being made is made possible by the fact that Network Rail, LNER, Northern and TransPennine Rail are now publicly owned, and are able to work together and co-operate without the morass of contracts that have characterised a privatised railway with poor outcomes for passengers? In short, does the Minister agree that the experience of the east coast main line gives us a glimpse of what Great British Railways could—and I hope will—achieve in future?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My Lords, the short answer is yes, I do agree. The £4 billion public investment in the east coast main line infrastructure in trains had stalled. Although Network Rail writes the timetable, it lacked the authority to implement it. Requiring ministerial approval amounted to an excessive level of central control that GBR will remove. Encouragingly, public sector collaboration, free from contractual constraints, enables successful delivery. The result is a major uplift in services, supporting economic growth and increasing the availability of cheaper LNER tickets, thanks to more trains and seats.

Girls: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Viscount Stansgate

Thursday 18th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

First, we have to acknowledge that there is an issue, and the statistics are stark. Of course, maths is compulsory, as has been said. Following on into A-levels and beyond GCSEs, only 37% of girls take maths and only 27% take further maths. They are absolutely stepping stones to so many different careers. We have set up maths hubs, working with 85% of primary and secondary schools. It is about that emphasis on primary and getting across the point of maths, which I have to say when I was young often escaped me. It is about getting in there, making it inspiring, encouraging young people and explaining the opportunities it will open when they pursue those subjects.

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, in respect of my noble friend’s Question, men outnumber women by four to one in computer science degrees. It has also been said that the economy loses between £2 billion and £3 billion a year because women leave the tech sector or change jobs due to barriers that should not exist. Is that not exactly the type of thing the Women in Tech Taskforce is being set up to tackle?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I shall be honest: I have three girls, and they found their computing courses absolutely boring, and yet it should be one of the most inspiring subjects they can learn, so my noble friend is right. We are investing in this area and funding the National Centre for Computing Education’s I Belong programme, which is targeting this. It is a hugely important issue and is probably getting even more so as we go forward.

National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Viscount Stansgate

Committee stage
Tuesday 21st January 2025 Grand Committee

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Viscount Stansgate) (Lab)]

They were once described as some of the most polluted waterways in Europe.

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)]

I understand that we have the grace of an extra 10 minutes after 7.45 pm. My understanding was that we would like to carry on and that noble Lords would come back if we do not finish the group. However, the Minister says that he is fine to break now, so if that is the will of the Committee then I am happy to do so. We seemed to be making real progress; I apologise for breaking any convention, but I am happy to be reasonable.

Europe: Arts and Creative Industries

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Viscount Stansgate

Tuesday 10th December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, I welcome my noble friend the Minister’s comments about resetting relations with Europe. As someone who for many years accompanied my own children, who were members of youth orchestras, around all the major countries of Europe, I ask whether in the discussions the Government are now having with partner countries in Europe special emphasis will be given to making it easier for youth orchestras to travel in the summer, both to and from Europe, to enrich the musical, cultural and educational needs of our young people.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

One of the enormous benefits of taking part in these debates is that one always learns something new. For instance, I have now learned all about the issue of cabotage—I do not know whether other noble Lords are fully apprised of it—and the sheer difficulty of physically moving across Europe when you have all the individual countries to deal with. Of course, these matters are close to our hearts; we all value young people travelling across Europe as our closest partner, and these areas are being fully discussed.