Rail Revival and Record Wind as Police Row Deepens

High-Level Summary

The House of Commons examined cost of living and regional growth in Scotland, tertiary education funding, and held Prime Minister’s Questions covering Iran, the Hillsborough law, public services and business taxation. Major statements announced an up to £45 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail programme, and an HMICFRS interim report on West Midlands Police’s handling of a football match; the Home Secretary declared no confidence in the Chief Constable and proposed restoring dismissal powers. The Energy Secretary set out a record offshore wind auction. The House debated UK support for Ukraine, before an adjournment debate on the Lindsey oil refinery. A deferred division approved regulations under the Public Order Act 2023 (Ayes 301, Noes 110).

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers: Scotland – Cost of Living, Economic Growth; and Tertiary Education

On cost of living, the Secretary of State said Budget measures would help Scotland, citing abolishing the two‑child limit, higher minimum and living wages, the triple lock and targeted bill support: “Scrapping the two-child limit will benefit 95,000 Scottish children… the triple lock pension increase will benefit around 1 million Scottish pensioners. We are also cutting energy bills by up to £300 for those most in need.” [ref: a907.6/1] He criticised the SNP’s record as “19th-century nationalism” [ref: a907.8/1] and said the UK was “increasing public investment… across public services in every part of these islands.” [ref: a908.0/1] On drugs, he described “more than 6,800 drug deaths… the worst drug-related death rate in Europe.” [ref: a908.3/1]

On growth, he highlighted the UK’s £140 million local growth fund for five Scottish regions and around £700 million for other projects, plus a record block grant [ref: a909.8/1]. Examples included: Ayrshire sector support [ref: a910.0/1]; North Lanarkshire’s growth and a “£1.5 billion” CoreWeave AI investment [ref: a910.2/1]; sustaining Alexander Dennis and supply chains [ref: a910.4/1]; trade opportunities including a “UK-India trade agreement” estimated at “£190 million a year” for Scotland [ref: a911.0/1]; £9.8 million for the Forth Valley and a green freeport MoU “unlocking £25 million” [ref: a911.2/1]. Responding to energy price concerns, he said the latest auction “delivers new renewable power… the strike price… an average of £91… 40% lower than the cost of building and operating new gas.” [ref: a913.1/1]

On tertiary education, Ministers said the Scottish Government had received “an additional £11 billion since the general election”, while Audit Scotland showed “Scottish colleges suffering a 20% cut in real-terms funding since 2021.” [ref: a916.0/1] Scott Arthur quoted Universities Scotland that the budget “does not adequately address” the situation [ref: a916.1/2, a916.1/3], and a meeting with Heriot‑Watt was agreed [ref: a916.2/1].

Prime Minister’s Questions (Engagements)

The Prime Minister condemned repression in Iran and said the UK was working with allies on sanctions [ref: a916.7/1]. He trailed “a major new rail network across the north and a new northern growth strategy.” [ref: a916.7/2] On the Hillsborough law, he said the “duty of candour applies to the intelligence services” and that Ministers would “meet the families and outline the next steps on Monday.” [ref: a917.2/1] On a reported antisemitic ban on an MP visiting a school, he said MPs should be able to visit anywhere in their constituencies and the Government would “be holding to account those who prevented that visit.” [ref: a917.0/1]

Exchanges with the Opposition leader focused on digital ID, business taxation and public services. The PM said checks on illegal working “will be digital and mandatory” [ref: a918.1/1] and criticised past Conservative record, quipping they had had “more positions in 14 years than the Kama Sutra.” [ref: a918.1/1] He said Government was working with the hospitality sector and highlighted support for workers and the Employment Rights Act 2025 [ref: a919.0/1-2]. Ed Davey raised A&E waits; the PM called such waits “simply not acceptable” and pointed to “record investment” [ref: a921.3/1]. On water outages, he said Ministers were holding “daily emergency meetings” and had “doubled the compensation rates.” [ref: a922.0/1] On platform‑generated sexual imagery, he said X was acting to comply with UK law and that “we are not going to back down… Ofcom will continue its independent investigation.” [ref: a923.4/1] Later, a deferred division approved key national infrastructure regulations under the Public Order Act 2023 (Ayes 301, Noes 110) [ref: a1046.4/2].

Statement: Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR)

The Transport Secretary announced up to £45 billion for NPR to create a “turn-up-and-go railway along the northern growth corridor of Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield, as well as York.” [ref: a929.1/5] Phase 1 in the 2030s will electrify and upgrade the Leeds‑Bradford, Sheffield‑Leeds and Leeds‑York corridors, develop a new Bradford station (decision by summer) and consider the Leamside line [ref: a929.1/9-10; a936.1/1]. Phase 2 in the 2030s will build a predominantly new Liverpool‑Manchester route via new stations serving Manchester Airport and Warrington Bank Quay, with work to resume on an adapted hybrid Bill for Manchester sections [ref: a929.1/11]. Phase 3 into the 2040s will further improve trans‑Pennine connectivity [ref: a929.1/12]. The Government’s “long‑term aim” is a new north‑south line from Birmingham to Manchester, retaining land between the West Midlands and Crewe [ref: a929.1/13-14].

The Opposition criticised the absence of construction and completion dates and questioned a £45 billion cap versus earlier costings [ref: a931.1/1-7]. The Secretary of State replied that NPR would be delivered “in full”, with £1.1 billion over the next four years for development, and that “every single one of those mayors is backing the plan today.” [ref: a929.1/9; a932.0/4; a929.1/7] She said Birmingham‑Manchester delivery would follow NPR construction in the 2040s [ref: a937.4/1].

Statement: West Midlands Police – Maccabi Tel Aviv fans decision

The Home Secretary presented HMICFRS’s interim findings on the November 2024 decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv away fans from Villa Park, calling the report “damning.” It found little engagement with the Jewish community, “confirmation bias”, inaccurate Dutch policing summaries, poor record‑keeping and “misleading communications”, including an incorrect claim that AI was not used [ref: a951.1/8-15]. She declared that “the chief constable of West Midlands police no longer has my confidence,” noting dismissal powers rest with PCCs since 2011, and announced plans to “reintroduce the Home Secretary’s power to dismiss chief constables… in the upcoming White Paper on wider police reform, with legislation to follow.” [ref: a951.1/15-17]

Pressed on whether she could direct a PCC under section 40, she said the 2011 Act removed that route: “The Secretary of State does not have power to direct a police and crime commissioner to suspend or remove a chief constable.” [ref: a955.0/3, a955.2/1-2] She said the IOPC could consider an investigation on its own initiative and confirmed a forthcoming policing reform White Paper would address AI use; safety advisory groups’ operation will also be reviewed [ref: a956.4/2-3; a960.1/1].

Statement: Offshore Wind – Contracts for Difference (Allocation Round 7)

The Energy Secretary announced a “record‑breaking” 8.4 GW of offshore wind—fixed and floating—enough to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes [ref: a972.1/3-4]. He said updated levelised costs put new gas at “£147 per megawatt-hour” and the average winning offshore wind price at “£90.91 per megawatt-hour”, “40% cheaper than the cost of building and operating new gas” [ref: a972.1/7-10]. He projected £22 billion of private investment and at least 7,000 jobs, and introduced a “clean industry bonus” to build UK supply chains [ref: a972.1/11-13].

The Shadow Energy Secretary argued prices were the highest in a decade, urged publication of full system costs and clarity on gas back‑up and constraint payments [ref: a974.1/2-9]. The Secretary rejected that, saying the same metric used previously showed offshore wind remained cheaper; he added that “even” without carbon pricing, gas was “still more expensive”, and pointed to past failures to build the grid behind constraint payments [ref: a976.0/2-4]. He confirmed AR8 is on track to open later this year and addressed questions on grid upgrades and floating wind’s emerging status [ref: a977.6/1; a980.1/1].

General Debate: Ukraine

Opening the debate, the Europe Minister condemned intensified Russian strikes, including a hypersonic IRBM near NATO territory, and set out UK sanctions pressure on Russia’s energy revenues, noting interception of the sanctioned vessel “Bella 1” and a coming “maritime service ban on Russian liquefied natural gas” [ref: a994.1/4-7]. He said that if British troops were ever proposed for deployment as part of a post‑ceasefire security arrangement, “the matter would come before this House for a debate and a vote.” [ref: a992.1/8-9] He detailed humanitarian support and action to trace abducted children [ref: a996.3/2].

Members across the House reaffirmed support for Ukraine, debated a potential “coalition of the willing” deployment, tougher action on the shadow fleet and the use of frozen Russian assets. The debate concluded with a resolution that “this House has considered the situation in Ukraine.” [ref: a1036.1/6].

Adjournment Debate: Oil Refining Sector (Lindsey Oil Refinery)

The Member for Brigg and Immingham warned of impacts from the Lindsey oil refinery closure on energy security, local employment and supply chains, and questioned the administrators’ process, citing correspondence that “a fully funded, credible bid… and a separate cash acquisition value of £400 million… existed.” [ref: a1039.1/3-7] He sought ministerial engagement and transparency on bids.

Replying, the Energy Minister said the court‑appointed official receiver’s independent process had identified Phillips 66 as the “most credible bidder”, with sale expected in the first half of 2026. He said the buyer “has decided not to restart stand‑alone refinery operations”, stating the refinery was “not viable in current form”, and that no offer “would credibly see a return to refining operations in the next few years.” [ref: a1042.0/3-7] He confirmed a training guarantee for redundant workers and outlined broader sector measures (SAF mandates, CCUS clusters and consideration of refined products in a future carbon border adjustment mechanism) [ref: a1043.1/2-4; a1044.1/4-5].