There is inevitably a tension between realising the value of a truly long- term strategy and recognising that governments must retain discretion and flexibility. It is essential that the Long Term Rail Strategy does not lose continuity and become in effect a series of short-term strategies. The Bill should be amended to require that the Strategy be laid before Parliament, and that, where the Secretary of State makes substantive changes, it be required to be laid again in its amended form. (Re...

There is inevitably a tension between realising the value of a truly long- term strategy and recognising that governments must retain discretion and flexibility. It is essential that the Long Term Rail Strategy does not lose continuity and become in effect a series of short-term strategies. The Bill should be amended to require that the Strategy be laid before Parliament, and that, where the Secretary of State makes substantive changes, it be required to be laid again in its amended form. (Recommendation, Paragraph 29) Type: conclusion | Number: 10 | Response status: accepted Government response: The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. The Government agrees with the Committee regarding the importance of the Passengers’ Council being trusted to carry out its role. As recognised by the Committee, disabled passengers already face an unacceptable number of obstacles when trying