Speeches by Glover.

“T2. On a recent visit to Stanford in the Vale pre-school, I saw the great service that it provides to children and parents. However, it faces rising demand without adequate funding and resources. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to support early years education providers in meeting demand for the free-hours …”

“Yesterday, as part of £500 million cuts, the BBC announced the scrapping of BBC Radio 4’s “The World Tonight” programme after 56 years, among others. It is very welcome to hear the Secretary of State’s support for the BBC, but can she say a little more about what she is going to do to protect the future of the BBC, fol…”

“6. What steps she is taking to help ensure the sustainability of the BBC’s long-term funding.”

“We have obviously had a lot of chat over the last few months about the impact of the war in the Middle East, which supposedly will be coming to an end. We shall see—we can all hope, of course. Are you confident that you have done enough as a Department to ensure that passengers will not experience mass flight cancellat…”

“I shall move on to avoid testing the Chair’s patience. Over the last few months in terms of rail services that currently exist, we have seen cuts to summertime tables in Avanti and Thameslink on the Luton to Rainham service group. We have seen restrictions introduced on the ability to gain refunds before the day, which…”

“We would all agree we would not want that, but perhaps the best way of doing that would actually have people on trains checking tickets. Perhaps you and I could compare stats as to how often that happens between London and Didcot and Swindon, but not now.”

“You will both be aware that there have been lots of reports of delays and disruptions during recent school holidays as a result of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System, abbreviated as EES. How have you been working with European partners and airlines to mitigate the impact of EES checks on travellers? It would be…”

“I mentioned that the EES suspension process is only available until September for EU member states. Do you feel we should make the case to the European Union that it should be extended, given all the issues, and would you be willing to consider that?”

“I have another quick question about the further phase of East West Rail, Chair; I promise I shall recover on the next one. If I remember correctly, you said one of the learnings from HS2 is that proven technology is the best way forward, rather than trying to invent something new.”

“I have a very quick question on that: has the Department made an estimate as to the lost ticket revenue and other costs associated with that lack of train service?”

“I understand your point about not wanting to get into specifics while it sounds like commercial discussions may be in place.”

“Not at 100 mph, though.”

“That would be great; thank you very much.”

“I think that admonishment applies to us on the Committee asking you the questions as well, to be fair. On to a topic that I know will fill you both with joy, as it does us: HS2. When Mr Wild, chief executive, recently came to talk to us, he told us that HS2 had been de-risked to become “A very standard and straightforw…”

“I am sure.”

“Let us turn to how things will work after HS2 in its truncated form. As I understand it, the current expectation for a rolling stock order reflects the previous assumption that HS2 phase 2 would go ahead. Does the Department have a clear view of the train service and timetable that will be appropriate when HS2 is compl…”

“Does that apply to East West Rail, given that East West Rail is currently proposing discontinuous electrification, which would involve battery trains running at 100 mph, five trains an hour, which from answers they have given me suggest do not exist anywhere else in the world at the moment. Is that proven technology, a…”

“Okay, you are happy for that phrase, but could you answer this hopefully fairly straightforward question about the goals for the post-HS2 operational reality? For the reality of a train service to London, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Glasgow, is it your expectation that whatever rolling stock and timetable soluti…”

“Hopefully I have a reasonably concise question and maybe answer. The Road Investment Strategy 3 outlines that £1.66 billion has been allocated for the Lower Thames Crossing, which is around £174 hmillion more than previously announced at the spending review in the autumn Budget. Why was that increase not disclosed as a…”

“Noting the Chair’s admonishments, we have explored a few times, Secretary of State, the lack of train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes. Is there anything specific you could tell the Committee about progress that is being made, or when anything might happen?”