Stephen Hammond: rose—
Stephen Hammond: The Minister was keen to put matters categorically on record earlier, so I shall do likewise. I did not say that it was a bad thing, nor did I make a value judgment; I merely stated that the premium was a cause of fare increases.
Stephen Hammond: That is an interesting point. However, rather as the Government frequently wish that all their Back Benchers would exactly follow everything that the Government say—
Stephen Hammond: The hon. Lady says, "As they all do." That has not always been my recollection, nor indeed is it necessarily what the voting record indicates. Not all the Back Benchers who go to the Minister represent official party policy, therefore, whereas it is official party policy that has been stated today.
Stephen Hammond: By what criteria she will reach a view on whether a referendum should be held on any new EU constitutional treaty.
Stephen Hammond: On 20 March in response to my question, the Minister said that the Government's policy had not changed and that if the constitutional treaty returned, "there would be a referendum"—[ Official Report, 20 March 2007; Vol. 458, c. 679 .] Yet on 20 April, the Prime Minister, when asked by Le Monde whether the modified treaty would be put to a referendum, said: "No. That is clear." The...
Stephen Hammond: I welcome this important debate, which was excellently introduced by the hon. Member for Battersea (Martin Linton). In her role as the chairman of the all-party cycling group, the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry) was right to commend cycling as healthy and environmentally friendly and, often, as the easiest way of getting to our destinations or the railway...
Stephen Hammond: I see from the Order Paper that the debate could last till 10 o'clock, which presents us with a challenge. I am sure that hon. Members will be pleased to hear that I have decided to resist the temptation of creating a new record for the length of an Opposition winding-up speech. The debate on this important Bill has been interesting and wide ranging. Mandatory bus travel concessions for...
Stephen Hammond: I could not disagree with that. Indeed, I reinforce the point and look forward to enjoying that care and attention during my time in the House. My hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall) introduced a new socio-economic group—the twirlies—who wait outside for the 9.30 buses. He discussed the concessions to young people and some of the problems associated with that. He also...
Stephen Hammond: I must have misinterpreted the hon. Gentleman, but that was not the point made by the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge.
Stephen Hammond: As I said earlier, we will continue to support the principle underlying the Bill and to study it as it moves through its parliamentary passage. There are a number of practical points that remain matters of concern, as my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell outlined in some detail. We look forward to hearing the Minister's response here and in Committee. Clearly, the important issues...
Stephen Hammond: The Government have announced plans for thousands of new homes throughout the country, but there is a genuine concern that the transport requirements, and whether the railway network can support that growth sustainably, have not been considered. On 26 April, together with Transport 2000, we launched a campaign to protect disused railway lines from development. On the same day, my hon. Friend...
Stephen Hammond: When he will announce details of the Government's revised counter-terrorism strategy.
Stephen Hammond: I thank the Home Secretary for his answer. In July last year, the Government published a document on countering terrorism, which was a review of the 12-point plan set out by the Prime Minister after 7/7. Will the Home Secretary give us an update on which of the points have not yet been fulfilled, and tell us what actions he plans to take to fulfil them?
Stephen Hammond: The Government spend much of their time demonising the deregulatory provisions of the Transport Act 1985. If those provisions are so evil, why have the Government not included re-regulation in the draft Bill?
Stephen Hammond: Will the Foreign Secretary give way?
Stephen Hammond: It is an honour to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall), who spoke with such passion on a subject that he knows a great deal about, and to contribute to this afternoon's debate. It seems to me that on 1 January this year, it was absolutely clear to everyone that the period of reflection after the rejection of the treaty by the Danish and the French was over. The...
Stephen Hammond: I do agree with that, as it is the logical conclusion of what the Foreign Secretary said this afternoon. As my right hon. Friend the shadow Foreign Secretary said, the red lines might be red herrings; they might defend British interests, but they might also be entirely worthless. Unless the Government, in their winding-up, give some clarity on the red lines, we are entitled to say that the...
Stephen Hammond: Did the hon. Member for Battersea (Martin Linton) not make an excellent case? A lot of people probably try to get away from the area when Millwall are playing.
Stephen Hammond: I listened carefully to the intervention by the hon. Member for Battersea (Martin Linton), who was surely making the point that one of the great disappointments of phase 2 is that Wimbledon has been left out, even though the original plan was to include it. It would have been an obvious place to include. As a hub station, it could have relieved Clapham Junction and allowed people to move...