UK Parliament / Open data

High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill

Proceeding contribution from Maria Eagle (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 26 June 2013. It occurred during Debate on bills on High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill.

My goodness, I find myself in total agreement with the hon. Gentleman.

Despite the importance of this project, there has been a real lack of drive from Ministers—I am not necessarily talking about the Secretary of State—in taking the decisions and delivering the action needed to make it a reality. The former Labour Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, set up HS2 Ltd as long ago as 2009. By August of the same year, he had already confirmed plans for a new north-south rail line because he was a high-speed Secretary of State. Nothing has moved anywhere near as fast at the Department for Transport since he left, except the revolving door that has meant I am facing my third Transport Secretary since the election. I hope very much that the Government reshuffle that is rumoured to be on the cards does not deliver yet another change. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will agree with me on that.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
565 c350 
Session
2013-14
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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