Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Acknowledged
Departmental select committees provide important, specialist scrutiny of legislation and policy implementation.
Conclusion
Departmental committees have an important contribution to make to scrutiny of legislation, being less adversarial and more specialist than Bill committees, and being able to continue scrutiny of the policy implementation long after the legislation is passed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 9) 32
Government Response Summary
The Government welcomes the conclusion drawn by the Committee that the clarity provided by a Long Term Rail Strategy (LTRS) will have benefits in terms of efficiency, planning for rail infrastructure and clarity for the wider economy.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. The Government welcomes the conclusion drawn by the Committee that the clarity provided by a Long Term Rail Strategy (LTRS) will have “benefits [...] in terms of efficiency, planning for rail infrastructure and clarity for the wider economy”. This is precisely the Government’s intention, and we agree with the view of the Committee that the greater the clarity provided by the strategy on long term strategic objectives, the greater the benefits will be. This is precisely why we have mandated the requirement for the LTRS within primary legislation. It is a critical driver of our vision for the reformed railway. Whilst the Government does not agree the Bill is the place to provide this detail due to the rigidity and enduring nature of legislation, in recognition of the desire from the Committee and wider industry, the Government will publish a discussion document providing more detail on what the LTRS will include alongside Bill passage through the House of Lords. This will ensure clarity and certainty for the sector providing confidence and direction as we establish GBR.