Member

In my view, however, the Bill’s current duties are well balanced, and the need to consider the efficient use of public funds achieves the same intention better than the straight direction to minimise costs. Minimising costs could push the duties out of balance, such that pure cost-cutting rather than more efficient working is preferred, which could lead to the wrong outcomes. For example, one of the simplest ways that GBR could reduce costs is to cut services to the lesser used but equally relied on parts of the network. If that sounds familiar, it is because it is that kind of thinking that led to the Beeching cuts, but I know that noble Lords will agree with me that that would not be the right answer.