Viscount Stansgate (Lab)

My Lords, Oscar Wilde once said: “I can resist everything except temptation”. I hope the Committee will understand that the temptation to support the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson, on this amendment is too strong to resist. It is a very important point. This is one of the occasions when, in speaking in Committee, it is quite right that I declare an interest. I was recently elected a vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail because of, sadly, the death of our friend Lord Snape. I am not here as a substitute for my noble friend Lord Faulkner, who would speak with much greater authority than I can, but it is important for the Committee to know that one of the reasons for all-party parliamentary groups is to bring together people from across parties with a common cause. I have no financial interest whatever in the railways, but I am a strong supporter of the heritage railway industry. The noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle, said that she was looking forward to the speech from the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson. So was I, and I have not been disappointed. I endorse all the major points that he made. The railway is one of the major attractions, of one kind or another, in this country. It has been through difficult times and has had to adjust to changing circumstances, such as the issue around the supply of coal. Take this year, 2026, which has been a record-breaking year in terms of heat. I know for a fact, having discussed it with the all-party parliamentary group, that railways of different kinds have had problems of one kind or another relating to the sheer heat. Indeed, I think—the noble Lord will correct me if I am wrong—that greater moves are now being made by the heritage railway industry to develop winter-related events because, sadly, this year showed that you cannot run steam railways, for example, because of the risk of fire. The noble Lord has already mentioned volunteers, who are crucial, and I welcome what he said about the guidance that was issued, capacity restraints and infrastructure. These are all very worthwhile points to make. I simply wanted to contribute briefly in Committee by saying that I endorse them and hope that, when my noble friend the Minister, who also has greater knowledge of this issue than I do, comes to reply, he will feel able either to accept the amendment or, at least, to reassure the Committee to a great extent that the needs of the heritage rail industry, which is a major benefit to this country, will be protected in the new era towards which we are moving.