First Great Western Franchise

I congratulate the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Steen) on securing this debate. The number of Members present from all parties shows the level of concern about the new timetable, which will be implemented from December. Like other hon. Members, I hope that we will hear from the Minister some reassurances that there will be changes to what is now the second revision to the original published timetable. We know why we are in this situation: three franchises have been combined into one, and one operator, First Great Western, has taken responsibility. Earlier on, Mr. Steen referred to the work that First Great Western has done since the protest by many people in the south-west. I want to consider what lies behind those problems, at what the continuing problems are and at what the Minister must do. We know that investment is needed, but as Mr. Steen said, that has been evident for many years.