Martin Vickers: My constituent, Aaron Winstanley, from Barton-upon-Humber is currently in Germany receiving immunotherapy treatment for a rare form of cancer. The local community has reacted magnificently, raising around half of the £300,000 that this treatment costs. Could the Minister outline what is being done to introduce this treatment into England?
Martin Vickers: The recent conclusion of the Greater Grimsby town deal was a welcome boost to the economy in Cleethorpes and Grimsby. A further boost could be provided if a way could be found to revive the failed Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal. Will the Secretary of State meet me and fellow Lincolnshire MPs to discuss a way forward?
Martin Vickers: Notwithstanding what the Minister has said and what her colleagues have said on previous occasions, she will be aware that in fishing communities there are still concerns that the Government will use fishing in some way and make further concessions. Can she give an absolute guarantee that there will be no further concessions on fisheries?
Martin Vickers: The Secretary of State referred earlier to the visit of his colleague, the Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Jake Berry), to north-east Lincolnshire to sign the Greater Grimsby town deal, which is very welcome and I thank him for his support in achieving that. One of the things that his colleague will...
Martin Vickers: Many fisheries and seafood-processing companies in my constituency have come together with other businesses to express interest in the concept of a free port, post-Brexit. Will the Secretary of State assure them that the Government will agree to nothing that would prevent a future Government from designating free ports?
Martin Vickers: I welcome the Minister’s comments, particularly on creating a level playing field. Does he acknowledge that it would be beneficial for perhaps two franchise operators to operate on some of our main lines, such as the east coast? That would provide competition between them.
Martin Vickers: I beg to move, That this House has considered open access rail services. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, as always, Mr Hollobone. It is noticeable that the audience is fleeing just as the highlight of the day is coming on. I secured this debate for two reasons: first, because I think the present system of rail franchising needs a certain amount of reform; and, secondly,...
Martin Vickers: I acknowledge what the hon. Gentleman says, and I have to say that I have experienced similar problems on some of my own journeys. Hull Trains, in particular, has recently gone through a rather bad spell, from which it has now hopefully recovered. That does not take anything away from the concept of open access which, as the hon. Gentleman acknowledges, has provided services to towns off the...
Martin Vickers: I give way to yet another former Transport Minister.
Martin Vickers: I thoroughly agree. My hon. Friend’s experience as a former Minister makes that a particularly relevant point. We are currently experiencing record private investment in UK rail. In 2016-17, that investment totalled £925 million—the highest since records began. The vast majority—£767 million—was spent on rolling stock. Some of that went to Hull Trains. Given...
Martin Vickers: I am perfectly happy to have diversity of ownership—that is what the free market would most likely deliver. Sadly, the history of British Rail did nothing to encourage my enthusiasm for a nationalised system. Indeed, British Rail ended the direct service to Cleethorpes in 1992. There has been record investment and record numbers of journeys in recent years. Passenger numbers fell under...
Martin Vickers: That is an important point. It is essential that we move in that direction. What has been the impact of competition to date? As I said, passenger journeys have increased by 42% on competitive lines, compared with 27% on those that have no competition; revenue has increased by 57%, compared with 48%; and average fares have increased by only 11%, compared with 17%. The east coast main line...
Martin Vickers: Seventy per cent. of my constituents voted for Brexit. In the past two years, they have become increasingly frustrated at the progress and concessions that have been made. That frustration is now turning into anger. What can the Prime Minister say to reassure them that there will be no further concessions?
Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to develop new indicators for the Clinical Commissioning Group Improvement and Assessment Framework to enable better scrutiny of choice and quality in end of life care.
Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with which stakeholders his Department will consult to develop new indicators on end of life care for inclusion in the Clinical Commissioning Group Improvement and Assessment Framework.
Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timetable is for the launch of the new national survey of bereaved people.
Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the paused national survey of bereaved people, whether he plans to run a re-commissioned survey.
Martin Vickers: I welcome the Secretary of State’s White Paper and his statement. He will know that the seafood processing sector is of particular interest in the Grimsby-Cleethorpes area. I welcome the reference to that in the White Paper, as will the industry. Will he assure me and the industry that he will continue to work closely with it to ensure the continuity of supply that is so vital?
Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the timetable for the introduction of an indicator on the Care Commissioning Group Improvement and Assessment Framework to measure the proportion of people with three or more emergency admissions in their final 90 days of life.