Keir Mather MP: speeches

Speeches

• 10 Jun 2026 · Railways Bill · Hansard source

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  For the final time, I give way.

• 10 Jun 2026 · Railways Bill · Hansard source

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  I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

• 10 Jun 2026 · Railways Bill · Hansard source

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  I would like to make a little bit of progress. [ Interruption. ] I will let the right hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) make a short intervention.

• 10 Jun 2026 · Railways Bill · Hansard source

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  Oh, go on then. Why not?

• 10 Jun 2026 · Railways Bill · Hansard source

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  The right hon. Lady is right to say that I am well aware of the specific measure that she speaks to. Having the relationship between GBR, the mayors and political representatives in Westminster, such as herself, is critical, and it is part of the purpose of GBR to better facilitate those conversations. I am sure that, through its establishment, she can take forward the debate on this particular matter with her usual passion.

• 9 Jun 2026 · Draft Airports Slot Allocation (Alleviation of Usage Requirements) Regulations 2026 · Hansard source

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  Winter 2026.

• 26 Mar 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  GBR will have responsibility for ensuring that it has the capacity to run services that are paid for by the British taxpayer and that it is tasked to operate. Outside that, it will decide on the best use of the network. Open access can play a vibrant role in that system, which could include services from my hon. Friend’s constituency.

• 26 Mar 2026 · European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for his repeated and consistent advocacy on this issue. I am cognisant of the fact that air connectivity in the Scottish highlands is not a “nice to have” but an absolute necessity. As well as meeting the two Members, my officials would be keen to engage with a variety of stakeholders as part of the review, to obtain evidence on the benefits of the EGNOS solution. That evidence will be critical to ensuring that the Government work out their future position carefully and that any future decision delivers value for money to the taxpayer.

• 26 Mar 2026 · European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service · Hansard source

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  I would be very glad to meet the right hon. Member and our colleague. I understand the important role that EGNOS played in ensuring that we had those vital connectivity links to the Scottish highlands. That is why we intend to review the role that technologies such as EGNOS can play, to ensure that our airspace is resilient and fit for purpose, especially for remote airports that are more susceptible to adverse weather conditions. I am very happy to take that conversation forward with the right hon. Member.

• 12 Feb 2026 · Heathrow Expansion · Hansard source

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  The Department launched the review of the airports national policy statement in October 2025, and selected a single scheme to inform that review in November. We are reviewing the ANPS swiftly but thoroughly, and we intend to consult on any revisions by the summer.

• 12 Feb 2026 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  The Government are currently considering the judgment handed down in the Groom case and the next steps that we will take with His Majesty’s Coastguard. In the meantime, we are grateful for the contribution of volunteers across wider society. They are a crucial part of how this country comes together and delivers for the common good.

• 10 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Thirteenth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Gently? Yes.

• 10 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Thirteenth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Eleventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move amendment 174, in clause 61, page 34, line 38, at end insert— “(4A) Agreement under subsection (4) may be general or specific, and the ways in which it may be given include it being given— (a) in accordance with the terms set out as mentioned in section 59(3); (b) by means of, or in accordance with, provision contained in an agreement or other document to which Great British Railways and the operator are parties.” This amendment ensures that changes to the working timetable can be agreed in advance and in general terms, and sets out various of the ways in which agreement can be given.

• 5 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Twelfth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I believe that hon. Members on both sides of the Committee have expressed all the points on these amendments, and I have nothing further to add at this stage.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Ninth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Yes, I am very eager to agree with my hon. Friend. This is a serious point. In my constituency, I see the difficulty that veterans have in attending Selby Abbey to mark the enormous contribution that people in our armed services have made across many conflicts. I would have thought that this is personal to every single member of this Committee, which is why I am pleased to agree with my hon. Friend.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Ninth sitting) · Hansard source

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  As I have just mentioned, we want to carry over those schemes to provide consistency for those groups. We are carrying over the role of the discretionary schemes as set out in legislation. We think that consistency is important but, for reasons that I will come to later, we also believe it is important that GBR is able to move in an agile way and think about evolving needs when it comes to concessionary travel. It is important, in terms of legislative carry-over, to ensure that that remains in place.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Ninth sitting) · Hansard source

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  The right hon. Member is far too eager. I shall turn to that in due course. Amendment 148 would prevent the Secretary of State and Scottish Ministers from issuing directions to GBR relating to fares, and amendment 45 would do the same for directions and guidance. I remind hon. Members that, as I said when we debated the directions and guidance clauses earlier in the Bill, the strategic parameters and guardrails that the Secretary of State will set for GBR on fares may not ultimately be delivered through directions and guidance by default. Clause 33 already allows for provisions on fares parameters and guardrails to be included in public service contracts awarded to GBR for operating passenger services. Nevertheless, it is crucial that the Secretary of State retains the powers to direct and give guidance to GBR on fares. It is necessary that the Government and GBR alike can respond to exceptional circumstances, which may necessitate a swift reappraisal of the strategic approach to fares. That is precisely what the Secretary of State’s directions-making power allows for, supplemented by the ability to issue guidance, to ensure a clear and speedy response if there is a crisis or unexpected change in context. Amendments 148 and 45 would remove those options for the Secretary of State and, in fact, for Scottish Ministers where GBR is operating services that they designate. The Government strongly believe that that is not in the interests of passengers or taxpayers. I agree with Opposition Members that we do not want Ministers interfering with day-to-day fares policy. GBR will have the freedom to define its fares policy within the parameters and guardrails set out, simplifying fares, removing duplication and, in turn, improving value for money. It will therefore be set up to succeed from the outset. Contrary to what Opposition Members believe, the powers in clause 33 do not undermine that.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to serve yet again under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. Clause 35 provides definitions for key terms used in chapter 1 of part 2, ensuring clarity and consistency in interpretation. I commend the clause to the Committee.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I will happily let the shadow Minister intervene again, because I would like to seek clarity on how inserting “and” would allow the watchdog to choose whether it has to investigate something in the first instance.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for the amendments, which would require the ORR to take action in the event of a referral from the passenger watchdog. First, I will point out that enforcement actions by the ORR are not the only way in which problems can be solved. The Bill gives the watchdog the power to request improvement plans, to allow operators to explain their planned improvements and agree them with the watchdog before issues are referred to the ORR for potential enforcement action. That is likely to be a faster way to get improvements for passengers than going straight to enforcement action. I appreciate the intention behind the amendments, which is to ensure that the watchdog will be listened to; it is an intention that the Government support. However, it is also important that the ORR, as the sector regulator, is able to take a broader view before deciding whether enforcement action is appropriate. That is because the passenger watchdog is only a passenger champion—it has a sole focus—and, by comparison, the ORR is the regulator for the whole sector and has to take into account a wide range of matters. If that were not the case, enforcement decisions could be taken that were good for the passenger but had a negative impact on the network as a whole. Each time that the ORR makes a decision, it must transparently explain its rationale to the watchdog on that basis. Therefore, in our view these amendments are unnecessary and I urge the hon. Member to withdraw them. Clause 42 will give the passenger watchdog the power to: “make representations to such persons as it thinks appropriate”, in order to resolve a matter under investigation. If the watchdog believes that an operator is currently “contravening, or likely to contravene” its licence obligations, it must either engage with the operator directly to request an improvement plan or refer the matter to the ORR and inform the Secretary of State that it has done so. If the case is referred to the ORR, the ORR can choose whether to take enforcement action or not. It must then inform the watchdog and the Secretary of State of its decision. That will ensure that the watchdog can act independently to resolve problems through engagement with operators and by directly engaging with the ORR when necessary. Without clause 42, the watchdog would not be able to effectively resolve matters that it had investigated and follow up on them. I commend the clause to the Committee.

• 3 Feb 2026 · Railways Bill (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I see.

• 29 Jan 2026 · Railways Bill (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Before I get into to my substantive points on this amendment, I want to circle back to a query the shadow Minister raised earlier, via an intervention, about accessibility and data sharing. I have a little more specificity to share with him: independent retailers will have the same opportunity as GBR to provide passenger assist to customers, and we are absolutely committed to a fair and open market. As part of this, the ORR’s code of practice will ensure that retailers get sufficient access to systems and data.

• 29 Jan 2026 · Railways Bill (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move amendment 169, in clause 24, page 13, line 29, at end insert— “(da) contain provision about the use to be made of the power to give directions under section 7,”. This amendment makes further provision concerning memoranda of understanding between the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers.

• 29 Jan 2026 · Railways Bill (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source

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  It is a pleasure to once again serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. Before I begin my remarks, may I seek a piece of advice on amendment 250? We are considering it as part of this group, but if it has not been moved and has been proposed by a Member who is not on the Committee, am I required to speak to it?