Member

More broadly in response to Amendment 38, the Government and I feel very strongly that we must see progress in reforming fares and ticketing. This Bill is essential to making real progress in this area. We are committed to reviewing and simplifying overcomplicated fares and introducing digital innovations. Change is being delivered, but we are looking to expand it further and more quickly in light of the, I hope, success of this Bill. This will avoid the challenges of the current fragmented franchising system where individual operators have worked for their own interests, rather than those of the whole system. For example, delivering improvements for passengers such as simpler fares or smart ticketing means negotiating with the franchisees to agree additional subsidy payments for every change. Public ownership puts an end to this cottage industry of negotiators, advisers and lawyers on commercial terms and will progressively enable us to put the focus where it belongs —on the needs of passengers.