Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Karl McCartney Excerpts
Thursday 12th March 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. It has to be linked to the question that you were standing for. Do not worry; we will come back later.

Karl McCartney Portrait Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)
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I note that the questions that my honourable and hairy friend has answered so far were about reducing the cost of rail fares, but that implies that either more people must make more journeys by rail, or taxpayers generally, such as those in Lincoln, must subsidise the rail industry more. Which would my hon. Friend prefer? Does he have any plans to improve the franchise process to make bidding for them more attractive to businesses?

Chris Heaton-Harris Portrait Chris Heaton-Harris
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We are going to change the franchise model—the Williams review is absolutely going to change how our franchise model operates—but my hon. Friend will have to wait a bit longer to see how that is going to happen. We have strong views on the direction of travel and look forward to informing the House shortly.