Rail

This briefing sets out the background to Spring Budget 2020 which will take place on 11 March 2020. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.

HS2 is planned to be delivered in three phases which will require at least three separate ‘hybrid’ Bills.

A Westminster Hall debate on the ‘Net zero targets and decarbonising transport’ has been scheduled for Tuesday 4 February 2020 from 9.30-11.00am. The debate has been initiated by Damian Hinds MP.

The move comes at a time when the rail franchising system is under considerable strain.

A Westminster Hall debate on the ‘North Cotswold Line transformation’ has been scheduled for Wednesday 22 January 2020 from 2.30-4 pm. The debate has been initiated by Harriet Baldwin MP.

The Railways (minimum service levels) Bill 2019-20 was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 19 December 2019 No date is yet available for second reading.

The ongoing Williams Review is likely to recommend improving accessibility and regional accountability for rail services

After Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in July 2019 the Government intensified planning for a no-deal Brexit and stressed its intention to take the UK out of the EU on 31 October with or without a deal. But the UK remained in the EU after 31 October after a further extension of the Article 50 period was agreed with the EU. A no-deal Brexit however remains the default outcome if an agreement is not ratified. This briefing paper provides an overview of Government and EU preparations for a no-deal Brexit, and of recent reports analysing the possible impact of this outcome

A Westminster Hall debate on the 'Proposed reinstatement of the Colne to Skipton railway link’ has been scheduled for Tuesday 29 October 2019 from 9.30-11.00 am. The debate has been initiated by Graham P Jones MP.

Keith Williams will appear before the Transport Select Committee on Monday 28 October.

This House of Commons Library briefing paper examines suicide prevention policies and strategies throughout the UK. It outlines national and local approaches to prevention policy in England, as well as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It does so by considering the strategies of the UK Government, as well as the devolved administrations, from various policy perspectives.