Member

On Amendments 85 and 88, I have already said that I recognise the need to get the most out of the railway for the taxpayer. That said, it would be unrealistic to set up GBR with a statutory goal to eliminate all subsidy. The reality is that taxpayer funding will always be needed for some issues and we can see this through comparative railway networks worldwide. Railways are a long-term capital-intensive endeavour that deliver economic growth, jobs and housing, and social benefits greater than the sum of their parts. It is essential for the functioning of our largest cities and country, and taxpayer funding is necessary to ensure investment in infrastructure maintenance and service delivery over the long run.