How not to run an efficient, cost-effective and safe railway to attract traffic off road and air. The European Council and Commission are grinding their way through new legislation to achieve the above objectives and to bring the Single Market to the rail sector. Common standards and approval processes for rolling stock form part of…
In the last two weeks I have spoken twice on the Assisted Dying Bill (2nd Reading) and on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The first attracted 123 speakers and the second, shorter one, 23. The allowed speaking time was 4 minutes for the first, and 5 for the second. Both debates were well-informed and thoughtful.…
First, a welcome to the new peers announced yesterday. Odd that the LibDems should be appointing any, given their stance that all peers should be elected. And good luck to the new ones in finding a desk and a computer, room to sit down on the red benches, securing a place on a committee and getting…
Here is a link to my contribution to the debate in Parliament about the Severn barrage, on the 2nd April 2013.
The Health and Social Care Bill committee stages started last week http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/111025-0002.htm and will continue this afternoon. We haven’t got past clause 1 yet. It was probably the most frustrating debate I’ve ever attended. It is all about whether the Secretary of State for Health should ‘provide’, or ‘promote’ and or ‘secure’ a comprehensive health…
