Seaborne Freight

Debate between Drew Hendry and Chris Grayling

Monday 11th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Chris Grayling]

Precisely because, as I said, we already had secured options that would enable us to provide alternatives.

[Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)]

Throughout this ridiculous Brexit shambles, Brexiteers have liked to lean on historical events to justify the metaphors for some of their Brexit fantasies. Was this calamity actually engineered by the Secretary of State, so that he could paint himself as some kind of latter-day Horatio Nelson—“I see no ships”? Well, we see no competence. Will he resign?

[Chris Grayling]

Actually, I did see ships—they were lined up ready to go on this route. It is a shame the backers pulled out.

Drones: Consultation Response

Debate between Drew Hendry and Chris Grayling

Monday 7th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Chris Grayling]

That is precisely why the technology becomes so important: for all the requirements that one puts into law, including around the technology that goes into drones, ultimately if people choose to act in a deliberate, disruptive and illegal way, the technology needs to be there to stop them. In respect of responsibility, the gold command was Sussex police, supported by the Metropolitan police and the security services. In Government, my Department took the lead.

[Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)]

The document to which the Secretary of State referred is called “Taking Flight”, but is it not true that his Government have taken flight over this issue? This is not a new issue that has suddenly arrived: BALPA has been arguing for greater protection for years. Indeed, almost three years ago I raised this issue with the then Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr Goodwill), when I said,

“we have the current issue of drones near aircraft, which needs to be addressed in an air strategy. I hope that the Minister will do something about that before there is a critical problem.”—[Official Report, 20 April 2016; Vol. 608, c. 357WH.]

The Minister of State said in that debate that he was

“wise enough not to stray into”—[Official Report, 20 April 2016; Vol. 608, c. 361WH.]

those issues. Is it still wise not to have not done anything for more than three years?

[Chris Grayling]

It might be if we had not, but of course we legislated last year.

Rail Update

Debate between Drew Hendry and Chris Grayling

Wednesday 29th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Chris Grayling]

I absolutely share my hon. Friend’s concern. Indeed, my hon. Friend the Rail Minister has made improving accessibility on the rail network a particular part of his work. We will continue accessibility funding in control period 6, and the opportunity will be there for individual stations and areas to come forward with proposals on how we can do better in what is an extremely important challenge that the rail industry faces.

[Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)]

It is a year and a half since the then Under-Secretary of State responded to our calls to look at extending the borders rail link—incidentally, it was delivered on time and under budget by the Scottish Government—to Carlisle, and she said that she was interested in looking into that. Will the Secretary of State now take those discussions forward with the Scottish Government?

[Chris Grayling]

I am happy to take forward those discussions with the Scottish Government. Indeed, my hon. Friend the Rail Minister is meeting the borders rail campaign shortly. We absolutely understand the benefits that the project, which the Scottish Government have already delivered, has brought to the borders.