Transport Ministers were taking questions in the Commons. Subjects
covered included...
To read any of these in greater detail, click on the link above or
see below.
Road Safety
(Nottingham South) (Lab)
1. What steps his Department is taking to improve road safety.
[900500]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government are committed to improving safety on all our
roads, and to reducing the numbers of those who are needlessly
killed and injured. Last July, we published “The road safety
statement 2019: a lifetime of road safety”.
The right hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead ( ) has this week accused
Highways England of
“a shocking degree of carelessness”
in rolling out all-lane-running motorways, and the chairman of
the Police Federation has described smart motorways as
“inherently dangerous” and “a death trap”. I welcomed the
Secretary of State’s announcement of a rapid evidence stocktake,
and he promised to bring forward recommendations in a matter of
weeks, but it has now been three months. What is he going to do,
and when, to prevent further avoidable deaths?
I should like to start by thanking the hon. Lady for her sterling
work as Chair of the Select Committee on Transport, which I am
sure is recognised by all Members of the House. She is absolutely
right about that stocktake. Two things have happened. First, the
general election intervened and took up some weeks. The other
thing that has happened—I say this in all sincerity—is that I
have uncovered a range of issues that I am not content simply to
brush over. I have therefore requested further information, and
we are nearly there. In this process, I have specifically
included going back to, speaking to and in one case meeting the
families of those who have been affected by these issues. I agree
with my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead that
there is far too much complication in having all-lane-running
dynamic motorways—smart motorways. If the hon. Lady will forgive
me, this is taking a little longer, but I think we will get to a
much better outcome.
(Kingston upon Hull East)
(Lab)
It has been clear for some time that all-lane-running motorways
are death traps. As my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham
() has pointed out, five
people have been killed in just 10 months on a 16-mile stretch of
the M1. The Secretary of State has the power to scrap these
dangerous motorways now, so will he stop this dither and delay
and act now to avoid further tragic deaths and serious injuries?
Will he also assure the House that there will be no restoration
of these motorways without full radar coverage?
As I pointed out a moment ago—perhaps after the hon. Gentleman’s
question was written—it is important that we gather all the
facts. Sadly, 1,700-plus people died on all our roads in 2018.
Motorways of the safest of those roads, but the question is: are
smart motorways less safe than the rest of the motorway network?
For me, we must make them at least as safe, if not safer,
otherwise they cannot continue. But we have to do this as a
fact-based process. I am interested, rightly, in speaking to the
families of the victims as well as to organisations such as the
AA and the RAC and to Members of this House. Forgive me, it does
take time to do this correctly, but I do not think the hon.
Gentleman will be disappointed with the results.
(Bexhill and Battle) (Con)
I should like to join the Secretary of State in paying tribute to
the hon. Member for Nottingham South () for the way in which she
has chaired the Transport Committee over the past two years. She
has done so with great fairness, and she probed with great
diligence as well. I want to give her my thanks for that, and she
is also a wonderful friend.
When it comes to road safety, there is great concern that school
safety is at risk. Would it be possible to set up a programme of
investment so that the most dangerous schools can get the
necessary technology and 20 mph speed limits put in place? That
would also encourage the use of walking buses.
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his election as Chair of the
Select Committee. Yes, I agree with him about working with
schools. One point that is often forgotten is that local
authorities already have the power to reduce speed limits, for
example to 20 mph. I look forward to working with him as Chair of
the Committee.
(Chatham and Aylesford)
(Con)
The Secretary of State will be aware that the stretch of the M20
that runs through my constituency is due to open as an
all-lane-running motorway in March, but it does not have stopped
vehicle detection systems or appropriately spaced emergency
refuges. I appreciate that it will be frustrating for those using
it to continue to have cones and low speed limits, but does he
agree that, given the concerns about safety on all-lane-running
motorways, it should not open until all those measures have been
put in place?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has campaigned on this issue
for a long time. That stretch of the M20, and all other stretches
that are currently being worked on, will not be opened until we
have the outcome of the stocktake.
Transport Investment: Regional Disparities
(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)
2. What steps he is taking to reduce regional disparities in
transport investment. [900501]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
We have made clear our ambition to level up opportunity across
the country, including through more investment in transport
infrastructure.
The removal of Northern’s rail franchise is long overdue, but
that alone will not fix the systematic problems of poor
infrastructure and lacklustre investment that cripple our rail
network. Northerners are frequently promised investment for new
infrastructure projects, but it is rarely delivered. We were
promised new platforms at Manchester Piccadilly way back in 2014
as part of George Osborne’s northern hub, but the money has never
materialised. When can we expect the platforms to be built, so
that passengers are no longer left waiting hours for trains that
never turn up?
We are spending £48 billion on rail over the next five years, not
including Northern Powerhouse Rail. We are spending £13 billion
just in the north and, as the hon. Gentleman will know, I made a
significant intervention on the Northern franchise yesterday.
That level of investment will continue, and a figure that has not
been exposed enough is that £333 per person is spent in the
north-west, which compares with £183 per person in London. This
Government are more committed to the northern powerhouse, the
rail network and the transport network than any before.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
The news about Northern proves that the current system is simply
not fit for purpose and highlights yet again the chronic lack of
investment in the transport infrastructure of the regions of
England. Transport for the North has said that £70 billion is
needed for the required improvements, yet regions outside London
have averaged a third of London’s public transport spend per
capita over the past five years. Does the Secretary of State not
see the sheer scale of investment required and therefore accept
that gimmicks such as the £500 million announced this week will
simply not cut it?
We have heard several Opposition Members claim that the half a
billion pounds on Beeching announced the day before yesterday is
somehow just a drop in the ocean and does not matter. Only the
Opposition could think that half a billion pounds is not very
much money these days. We are absolutely investing in all the
other areas. An IPPR North report claimed that there was much
less investment in them, but I have figures that challenge that.
I would love to hear those figures, because the maths simply does
not add up. The RMT described the money as a drop in the ocean,
and it is right. The Scottish Government have invested in
modernisation and electrification schemes, completing them
without cancellation, on the Aberdeen-Inverness and
Edinburgh-Glasgow lines, the Paisley corridor and many other
routes, and we reopened the hugely successful Borders railway.
Does the Secretary of State not see that that level of ambition
is needed to modernise the rail network? If the Government match
that ambition, then through consequential funding Scotland could
build the rail network of the future and decarbonise even quicker
than our 15-year target.
We share the same ambition, and I hope the hon. Gentleman will
join us in welcoming the Williams rail review which, among other
things, will do so much to devolve more power to local
communities.
(Southport) (Con)
18. Historically, one of the greatest areas of disparity is
between our cities and our regional seaside towns, such as
Southport. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the reopening of
the Burscough curves line would not only give Southport rail
users greater access to the network, but contribute significantly
to our tourist and retail economies? [900519]
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend and pay tribute to him for
his doughty campaigning for the reopening of that line. Members
across the House should have received a letter inviting them to a
Beeching event here in the House on 4 February at which they can
find out how to apply for schemes in their constituencies.
(North West Durham)
(Con)
My constituency has no rail line or dual carriageway. Does my
right hon. Friend recognise the challenges facing communities
such as mine, and will he support my campaign for better local
bus services and a feasibility study into reopening the rail line
from Consett to Newcastle?
I was delighted to visit my hon. Friend’s constituency to see
that railway line. I absolutely support his ambition and look
forward to seeing him at the Beeching meeting on 4 February.
(Walsall North) (Con)
One way of addressing regional disparity in transport investment
might be to continue with High Speed 2, so will the Secretary of
State join the Chancellor in supporting the continuation of that
project when he meets the Prime Minister later today?
It has taken seven minutes for the subject to be raised. I do not
wish to disappoint my hon. Friend, but he will not have to wait
very long. We will make an announcement next month.
(Oldham West and Royton)
(Lab/Co-op)
I welcome the pre-announcement of the HS2 commitment, but our
local services are important. Funds are being developed for a
tram link from Bury to Middleton, and hopefully through to
Oldham, but we need to connect the whole north-east of Greater
Manchester. Will the Secretary of State commit to a meeting, at
least, to discuss a link from Oldham to Ashton?
I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman. He may recall
that I came up to his neck of the words during the election
campaign and pledged that, through the local funding approach to
transport, we will help to empower local communities in such
decisions.
Road Network: England
(Workington) (Con)
3. What steps he is taking to improve the road network in
England. [900503]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government have invested £17.6 billion in England’s strategic
road network since 2015, and we intend to invest a further £25.3
billion over the next five years.
I thank my right hon. Friend for his promises on road investment
across England. In my constituency of Workington, we are waiting
for a start date for the planned roundabout on the notoriously
dangerous staggered junction on the A66 at Brigham and Broughton.
Does he have an update on the proposed start date for those
improvements?
I will never forget my recent visit to the site of that
roundabout with my hon. Friend, and I look forward to it being
taken forward as part of road investment strategy 2, which is to
be announced shortly.
(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
The Conservative manifesto made strong statements about improving
cycling and walking on our road network, but it committed only
£350 million. That is not new money; it is money that the
Conservatives promised given that other cycling infrastructure
funds have now come to an end. What will the Secretary of State
do seriously to improve safety and to encourage more people to
cycle and walk?
Like the hon. Lady, I support the ambition for more cycling. That
£350 million is in addition to the existing funding, and I think
she will be pleased to back our manifesto commitment to make
cycling proficiency, or Bikeability, available to every child in
England.
(Waveney) (Con)
Can the Secretary of State advise me of when the development
consent order decision on the Lowestoft third crossing will be
announced? This was due on 6 December, and it was understandably
postponed due to the general election campaign, but we are now
eight weeks further on and a statement from him would be
appreciated.
I need to be cautious—it is going through due process, and I will
contact my hon. Friend to give him a bit more detail.
(Stalybridge and Hyde)
(Lab/Co-op)
After a campaign of over 50 years and quite a lot of lobbying
from me and my predecessors as MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, and
indeed from successive Members for High Peak, the development
consent order for the Mottram bypass is due this year. The
Department has confirmed to me in writing that it will still do
this bypass as part of the trans-Pennine upgrade programme.
Anyone who has ever driven from Manchester to Sheffield has been
stuck in my constituency, and this is a big chance to get it
right, but the project has slipped so often that people are
understandably sceptical. Will the Secretary of State recommit to
the programme at the Dispatch Box and perhaps meet me to talk
about how we can make sure the project happens this year?
I am delighted to help everybody travel through and beyond the
hon. Gentleman’s constituency as quickly as possible. I would be
happy to meet him or, probably more helpfully, to ask the Roads
Minister to do so.
Bus Services: Staffordshire
(Newcastle-under-Lyme)
(Con)
4. What steps his Department is taking to improve bus services in
(a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) north
Staffordshire. [900504]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
( )
Buses are at the heart of the Government’s transformative agenda
and, with that, we have a new £220 million fund to make sure
buses are working across our urban and rural areas. We are
putting together the UK’s first long-term bus strategy.
Newcastle-under-Lyme is one of the largest towns in England
without a train station. We also suffer from very heavy
congestion on the roads into Stoke-on-Trent. Does the Minister
agree, therefore, that Newcastle-under-Lyme, and north
Staffordshire more widely, should be at the front of the queue
for a new Superbus funding settlement?
Ms Ghani
My hon. Friend has made a stellar pitch for the new Superbus fund
both today and previously in a Westminster Hall debate. It would
be remiss of me to say anything at the moment. All the proposals
are being assessed, and I assure him that the announcement will
be made very soon.
(Reading East) (Lab)
The Government have quite clearly failed on buses. They have cut
funding by 45% since 2010, and passenger numbers have plummeted.
In contrast, the few remaining municipal bus companies run by
Labour councils have both low fares and rising passenger numbers.
When will the Minister allow councils to bring buses back into
public ownership to provide the quality of service to passengers
that local people desperately need?
Ms Ghani
It is a shame that the hon. Member is always running down buses
and does not even speak about the network in his constituency,
where bus patronage is going up. We have just committed a further
£220 million. Furthermore, on the request of the Transport
Committee and a number of people lobbying for the very same thing
that we have wanted for so long, we have committed to a long-term
bus strategy.
Rail Connectivity: Burnley
(Burnley)
(Con)
5. What steps he is taking to improve rail connectivity in
Burnley constituency. [900505]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Work is nearing completion to assess the potential role of a
reopened Skipton to Colne rail line to deliver real benefits for
passengers in east Lancashire, freight users and the local
economy. That is to name but one scheme.
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer and for yesterday’s
announcement on Northern rail. The reopening of the Todmorden
curve in 2015 had a hugely positive impact on my constituency,
providing a direct train service to Manchester once an hour. What
support can his Department give me as I look at a business case
to increase the frequency of that service?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. He is already proving
that he is going to be a strong voice for Burnley in this place,
making sure that Burnley will always be heard. The best thing is
probably for he and I to meet in the short-term, because there
are plenty of ways in which we can help develop transport for
Burnley.
Railway Stations: Accessibility
(Bristol West) (Lab)
6. What steps he is taking to ensure that railway stations are
fully accessible. [900506]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
( )
As part of our inclusive transport strategy, we have put together
a £300 million fund to improve access at our railway stations.
I thank the Minister for that answer. She and I have met before
and she has been incredibly helpful, but I am getting frustrated
now. I know she will not be surprised to hear that I am referring
to Lawrence Hill station in my constituency, which has been
waiting such a long time; I know there are funds and application
processes, but is it not time the Government admitted that all
stations, which people need to use, should be accessible and just
got on with making them all accessible?
Ms Ghani
The hon. Lady will know that most of our railway stations were
built in an era when no thought was given to accessibility, let
alone to parents and people with wheelchairs. That is why we have
a £300 million fund, which is supporting over 73 stations, and
another tier of £20 million for smaller upgrades. I know that
there are two stations in her constituency in the review, and she
will not have to be patient for much longer.
(Amber Valley) (Con)
Will the Minister urge Network Rail to get on with the level
access improvements at Alfreton station and urge East Midlands
Railway to scrap its plans to end the direct train services to
London from my constituency, which would make it harder for
disabled passengers to get to stations south of Nottingham?
Ms Ghani
I am a little cautious about the second point, but I will most
definitely do what my hon. Friend asks on the first. Network Rail
has a duty to make sure its stations have decent accessibility,
and where there is no accessibility, the rail operating companies
have a duty to make sure passengers can carry on with their
journey.
Southeastern
(Greenwich and Woolwich)
(Lab)
7. What recent discussions his Department has had with
Southeastern on the adequacy of its rail services. [900507]
(Eltham) (Lab)
19. What recent assessment he has made of the future of the
Southeastern rail franchise; and if he will make a statement.
[900521]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Southeastern’s performance has been strong—much improved—and
remained relatively stable over the last year. Southeastern is
subject to several contractual performance benchmarks as part of
its franchise agreement, and the Department monitors those
closely.
I thank the Minister for his response. He will know that
reliability is still a problem on the line and that for many
years I have pressed his Department to hand responsibility for
Southeastern services to Transport for London to ensure that
passengers in my constituency get the high standard of service
that those who use London Overground receive. I know that his
immediate priority will be dealing with the franchise expiring on
1 April, but may I ask him and his officials, particularly in the
light of positive developments in relation to Great Northern
services, to step up conversations with the Mayor of London and
TfL about the possibility of rail devolution in south-east
London?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his supplementary question. We
have met and spoken about this issue in the past. He will know
that I am completely focused on making sure that that franchise
works and on whatever might happen on 1 April, but I am
interested to hear the proposals going forward for the devolution
of certain areas of Southeastern’s franchise.
I thank the Minister for that answer, because it opens the door
to some hope and to getting some resolution on the future of this
franchise. Our constituents have long suffered delays, and
despite what he says about performance having improved, over a
long period it has not been adequate. We had a constructive
meeting, but will there be another meeting with the local MPs to
discuss the future of this franchise?
Yes, I would be delighted to meet again to press ahead on this
agenda. Obviously business cases and a host of other details need
to be worked up with TfL, but I met , its deputy chairman,
earlier this week and we had a conversation on the matter then.
(Weston-super-Mare) (Con)
Angry and frustrated passengers in the south-east and elsewhere
will have been delighted to hear the Secretary of State say that
rail franchising is not working anymore, but will the Minister
confirm that swapping the uncaring private sector monopolies of
franchising for the equally uncaring state monopoly of
renationalisation will not help overcrowded or stranded
passengers one bit? Will he accept that we need a new and third
option in which passengers can choose between lots of different
provider services on their line each day and switch to whichever
one they like best, in the same way as they choose different
brands of coffee or cornflakes instead of taking whatever they
are given?
I hear what my hon. Friend says. There is an argument for open
access on our railways. The Williams review, which will report in
the near future, will provide an opportunity to debate the issue
at quite some length. I very much look forward to having that
debate with my hon. Friend because he has some positive ideas.
(Clacton) (Con)
15. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should extend contactless
payment throughout the south-east, and perhaps even out to the
coastline of Clacton? [900515]
I very much agree with my hon. Friend. Yeah, why not?
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill)
(Lab)
If the Minister is prepared genuinely to think about rail
devolution, will he think not just about Southeastern but about
West Midlands trains as well? Some 40% of trains were not on time
last month and 2,000 services were cancelled. The police and
crime commissioner has had to convene hearings because the Mayor
has failed to get a grip. It is not an acceptable standard of
service. We want local rail devolution and we want it now.
Mr Speaker
Order. Unfortunately, the question is on Southeastern railways
and is not really connected to Birmingham. If the Minister could
pick something out that would address that, I would be grateful.
I must say that is an excellent Mayor for
Birmingham and I hope he is re-elected.
Rail Infrastructure
(Heywood and Middleton) (Con)
8. What steps he is taking to improve rail infrastructure in (a)
the Castlefield corridor and (b) West Yorkshire. [900508]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
My Department is working closely with Network Rail, train
operators and stakeholders to develop options for improving rail
capacity and performance on the Castlefield corridor in
Manchester. We completely understand that sorting out the
capacity there is so important.
I thank the Minister for that answer. The national railway
network barely grazes my constituency, and Metrolink avoids it
altogether. Does he agree that an extension of Metrolink and the
welcome reversals of the Beeching cuts will be an important part
of levelling-up the forgotten towns in the north-west such as
Heywood and Middleton?
I welcome my hon. Friend to his seat. As a strong representative
of Heywood and Middleton, he will be pleased to hear that we are
very supportive of measures to improve public transport in large
urban areas such as Greater Manchester, which is why we have
provided £312.5 million to the Mayor through the transforming
cities fund and agreed, through the mayoral devolution deal, an
earn-back mechanism that supported the construction of the latest
Metrolink extension to Trafford. We will continue to do further
work in that field and hopefully extend Metrolink towards my hon.
Friend’s constituency.
(Normanton, Pontefract and
Castleford) (Lab)
From Castlefield to Castleford. In West Yorkshire we are grateful
that the Government have finally sacked Northern Rail, but we do
need investment in our northern infrastructure as well. Will the
Minister push for the Department’s plans to include definitive
plans for tackling disabled access? I have been raising for a
long time the serious lack of disabled access at Pontefract
Monkhill and Knottingley. It causes huge problems for parents
with buggies, as well as for those in wheelchairs, and they
cannot even get on the delayed or cancelled trains.
There is a fund for improving these things, but the right hon.
Lady is absolutely right that accessibility on our railways is
nowhere near as good as it should be in this day and age. We are
trying to do much more with the train operating companies and
Network Rail. I think she will be pleased to see what is said
about accessibility in the Williams review White Paper when it
comes forward.
(Shipley) (Con)
If the Government were to scrap HS2, which everybody knows is a
catastrophic waste of money, we would have a huge amount
available for more rail infrastructure in West Yorkshire and
across the north—we need better infrastructure in the north and
across the north. Northern Powerhouse Rail, or HS3, is much more
important to us than HS2. What is the Government’s intended
timetable for the completion of Northern Powerhouse Rail? Can the
Minister guarantee that Bradford will have a city-centre stop on
that route?
The Government are spending a huge amount of money on improving
the infrastructure in the north. My hon. Friend will see lots of
improvements in the Bradford area and the area he represents. On
HS2 and the various other bits of infrastructure, it is not an
either/or: they are additional investments that we are making in
infrastructure.
Crossrail Delays
(Ilford South) (Lab)
9. What recent assessment he has made of the financial effect on
people living in London of delays in Crossrail. [R] [900509]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
No recent assessment has been made of the financial effect on
individuals as a result of the delays to Crossrail.
I thank the Minister for his answer. I wish quickly to bring the
House’s attention to my declaration of interests. With four
Crossrail stations in Ilford South and the huge economic growth
potential not just across Ilford but across the whole of London,
does the Minister agree that it was utterly mad to get rid of the
operating grant of £900 million year on year that has crippled
Transport for London? In fact, this is an example not just of
another failed project by the Department for Transport, but of a
Government in crisis over the delivery of any infrastructure
project. Will he commit to restoring that grant and restoring
London—
Mr Speaker
Too long!
We should be a little cautious as the Department co-sponsors
projects with TfL and works very closely with the Mayor of
London, with TfL and with , who are very keen to see
this project brought to a speedy conclusion for the benefit of
all Londoners.
(Chelsea and Fulham) (Con)
We also need to examine the role of the Mayor and chairman of
TfL, , in this. In his just four years
in the role, Crossrail has been delayed by three years. Does the
Minister agree that the Mayor’s incompetent handling of TfL’s
finances has exacerbated this terrible delay, and that it is time
for new leadership in London under as London Mayor?
I rather think that we will be having a lot of back and forth
across this Chamber in the months to come with various mayoral
contests. It is safe to say that on these Benches we are very
keen to see as Mayor.
Oxford-Cambridge Expressway
(Oxford East) (Lab/Co-op)
10. What recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of
proposals for an Oxford-Cambridge expressway. [900510]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government are completely committed to the east-west
innovation corridor, the arc, and the Varsity line—one of the
most exciting pieces of corridor infrastructure in the country.
We are committed to the rail link, and, as my right hon. Friend
the Secretary of State has announced, we are looking closely at
the business and sustainability case of the expressway.
I was pleased to hear the Minister reconfirm that a review will
take place. Of course, that was finally agreed to in the heat of
the election campaign, perhaps because of concerns that were
heard about the expressway. It would be very helpful to
understand the parameters of that review: when will it be taking
place; who will be involved; and will local authorities and
groups such as the No Expressway Group be invited? We really need
to know about this if that promise of a review is to be a
reality.
I am delighted to say that we are listening to all the
representations that we have received. There will be an
announcement coming very shortly. Let me reiterate that this is
about our commitment to sustainable and integrated public
transport with housing. That corridor is a vital housing and
growth corridor and we want to make sure that it is sustainable
transport that works for the benefit of the people who live
there.
(Beaconsfield) (Con)
On infrastructure and paying in, we in Iver in Beaconsfield
receive very little money for transport infrastructure. We would
love to see our footpaths and our roads used, but we simply do
not have the money coming in from bodies such as TfL. Will the
Minister look into expanding investment in places like Iver, so
that we can have an Iver relief road and actually get the south
of Bucks moving again?
Mr Speaker
May I advise Members that their questions should be linked to the
main question? If a certain area is specified, your questions are
meant to be about that area. You cannot just have a free for all.
Minister, if you can pick something out of that, please do so.
At a stretch, Mr Speaker, I think that Buckinghamshire touches
the east-west corridor. I would be delighted to meet my hon.
Friend to look at a place-based solution for sustainable housing
and transport.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
Martin Tugwell of England’s Economic Heartland sub-national
transport body described the expressway as a 20th century
solution to a 21st century challenge. Is it not absolutely clear
that the real answer is a public railway, an electrified railway,
with an interchange with HS2?
The hon. Gentleman is bowling outside my off stump, but he knows
that we are deeply committed to rail, to connectivity, and to
sustainable transport. I cannot pre-empt the Secretary of State’s
announcement on the expressway, but let me be very clear: we are
committed to sustainable integration of housing with public
transport, and that rail link is an absolute priority.
(Buckingham) (Con)
My constituents were very relieved when my right hon. Friend the
Secretary of State visited Verney Junction during the general
election and said that there would be a priority review of the
expressway. He gave a commitment that were the expressway to be
cancelled, funds would be made available for improvements to
existing roads. Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that, should
it be cancelled, those funds will be available?
I am delighted to give an assurance that, were the expressway to
be cancelled, we would absolutely recognise that significant
investment in other and even more important road links in that
corridor would be needed.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr Speaker
I am sorry, but we must move on.
Foot and Bicycle Journeys
(Enfield North)
(Lab)
11. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of
journeys taken by (a) foot and (b) bicycle. [900511]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
As the Minister for the future of transport, I am committed both
to creating a framework for UK leadership in transport technology
and innovation and to bolder measures for place-based cleaner,
greener and healthier transport and decarbonisation. I am
delighted that, as a result of the £2 billion that we invested
during the previous Parliament, we have seen a 13% increase in
cycling and walking, and we are committed to a 100% increase over
this Parliament.
The Minister will be aware that transport accounts for a higher
share of overall emissions than any other sector, so helping
people to drive less and cycle more is crucial to tackling the
climate crisis. We currently spent £7 per head on cycling
infrastructure, but the Walking and Cycling Alliance recommends
that we should be spending £17 per head on cycling infrastructure
if we are serious about improving cycling. He will be aware that
the Conservatives’ pledge to spend £350 million on cycling
infrastructure actually reduced that spend to
£1.18—[Interruption.]
Mr Speaker
Order. I call the Minister.
As the new Minister for the decarbonisation of transport, I can
say that the Government are absolutely committed to this, and we
have a cycling Prime Minister who is committed to it. We have
announced £350 million for cycling infrastructure. As I have
said, we are completely committed over this Parliament to
doubling the number of people cycling and walking.
(Reading East) (Lab)
Walking and cycling have a vital role to play in easing
congestion, cutting carbon emissions and helping people lead
healthier lives, yet cycling and walking rates are flatlining in
this country, and we are a very long way from Dutch or Danish
rates. Interestingly, a report from University College London has
criticised the Government for approving new housing developments
that are dominated by roads and do not take account of
pedestrians or cyclists. It found, quite simply, that three
quarters of developments should not have been given planning
permission because of the lack of safe cycling and walking
routes. When will the Government address this important issue?
Right now—we already are addressing it. We are quite a long way
from Denmark in all respects, but we are completely committed to
this. It is true that for decades this country has not put
cycling and walking at the heart of housing development—that was
as true under the Labour Government as it has been over the past
40 years. We are committed to it, through the work we are doing
with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government,
with the housing infrastructure fund and our new single housing
infrastructure fund. I am talking to the Secretary of State for
Housing, Communities and Local Government about how we can ensure
that every housing development has proper cycling, walking and
public transport integration. If we are to achieve our
decarbonisation targets, we have to do this.
(Ynys Môn) (Con)
Cycling is extremely popular in my constituency of Ynys Môn, with
its 125 miles of stunning coastline and unspoilt countryside. Can
my hon. Friend confirm that the Government are committed to
doubling cycling by 2025, and what difference does he think the
£350 million cycling infrastructure fund will make in achieving
that?
My hon. Friend is a brilliant advocate for Ynys Môn. I can
confirm that commitment, and she is right that it will have a big
impact on cycling and walking.
(East Worthing and Shoreham)
(Con)
Very complementary to cycling and walking are electric scooters,
which are increasingly popular and commonplace in cities across
the continent—they have just been legalised in Germany—yet they
remain illegal in this country. Can we at last have a review to
regularise the situation, because they are environmentally
friendly and could make a huge contribution to reducing
congestion, and it is a hip and cool thing to do?
Again, I seem to be a purveyor of good news. My hon. Friend will
be delighted to know that as part of our innovation strategy we
will shortly be announcing that we want to test scooters as part
of a mixed economy for sustainable transport.
Train Fares
(Hove) (Lab)
12. What steps his Department is taking to reform the regulation
of fares to encourage more people to travel by train. [900512]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government have frozen regulated rail fares in line with
inflation for the seventh year in a row. In addition, we have
already cut costs for thousands of young people with the 16-to-17
saver railcard and announced a new railcard for veterans, which
is to be launched later this year. All those measures help
encourage people to travel more by train.
It has been two and a half years since the Gibb review of the
main line between London and Brighton, which stated that there
are three rail fare structures for one line. It is really simple:
get rid of two of them and stick to the Thameslink fare, which is
the cheapest. The Minister does not need another review, because
there have been many already. Can he just get to his feet and
give a commitment that that is exactly what he will do?
I can get to my feet and commit the Government to simplifying
rail fares in the very near term.
(Middlesbrough) (Lab)
May I take this opportunity to wish the entire House a belated
happy rail nationalisation day for yesterday?
Earlier this month, UK rail passengers were hit with yet another
above-inflation fare rise. Fares are now up by 40% since 2010,
having risen at twice the rate of wages. In contrast, fares in
Germany were cut by 10% at the start of this year to encourage
more people to travel by train in order to cut emissions. Of
course, Labour pledged to reduce fares by 33%. Should the British
Government not follow the example of our European friends and
consider a fare cut to boost rail travel, rather than imposing
yet another fare hike?
The Government cap around 45% of all rail fares, including most
season tickets, to protect passengers who rely on the railway
from high fares. Of every £1 spent on fares, 98p goes back into
our railways. That is an investment in the railways; they are
actually not bad value for money.
That is a curious interpretation of the experience of British
rail passengers. The Transport Secretary will know that fuel duty
has been frozen since 2010 at the cost of more than £50 billion,
and he will be aware that air passenger duty has been broadly
frozen over a similar period, with the cut likely to come in the
Budget. He may also appreciate that rail and bus fares have
increased by more than a third in a decade. Does the Minister
agree that tax breaks for cars and aviation over public transport
is the right approach to meet the climate crisis challenge?
We have a very ambitious transport decarbonisation plan and we
want to do better, as the Minister for the future of transport,
my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk (), has outlined already—so
yes, we do think we have the right approach to decarbonise
transport by 2050.
(Bosworth) (Con)
Many of my constituents in Hinckley and Bosworth are often
confused and frustrated by the rail ticketing system, and no
doubt many people in the rest of the country are too. I wonder if
the Minister would agree that simplifying rail tickets by moving
away from splitting fares, or super off-peak and off-peak
tickets, may well make things better and make people more likely
to consider travelling by rail?
I thank my hon. Friend, who is a near neighbour of mine, for his
excellent question. We are currently trialling a new, simpler
fares structure with London North Eastern Railway, and will use
the findings to inform the development of wider plans to improve
fares. This will be a big part of the Williams review White Paper
that will be published shortly.
(Stretford and Urmston)
(Lab)
One aspect of fare regulation that I invite the Minister to
consider is compensation arrangements for cancellations and
delays, particularly on commuter services, where the sums
involved for the individual journey are small, but the cumulative
effect of poor services is significant for those passengers. Will
the Minister suggest some ways in which commuters can not only
hope to see their trains arrive on time, but easily claim
compensation when they do not?
The obvious way to get around this problem is to ensure that
trains actually arrive on time. That is the ultimate aim of all
that we do in this area at the Department for Transport. We have
rolled out the Delay Repay scheme across the vast majority of the
network, and it is working. However, we are going to spend £48
billion over the course of the next five years to try to ensure
that we have the infrastructure in place to make the trains run
on time. That has to be the ultimate goal.
Decarbonising Transport
(Scarborough and Whitby) (Con)
13. What steps his Department is taking to decarbonise the
transport sector. [900513]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
Now that so much energy—over half of it, last year—is being
produced on a renewable basis, it is essential that transport
reduces its greenhouse gas emissions, as it accounts for about a
third of total emissions.
Mr Goodwill
We have seen great progress in battery technology for light
vehicles, but decarbonising road freight is going to be a much
more difficult nut to crack. Does the Secretary of State think
that we need to look at options such as hydrogen technology for
trucks, or even freeing up space on our rail network by building
HS2?
Let me be drawn on the first part of that question, if I may. My
right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Hydrogen technology is
very important for heavier vehicles and potentially for trains,
whereas it is battery technology for cars. We are working and
funding both.
(Leeds North West)
(Lab/Co-op)
21. [900523] I thank the Secretary of State for listening to my
call last July and bringing Northern Rail back into public
ownership from 1 March. When the trains do arrive on the
Harrogate line through my constituency, they are dirty diesel
trains. Will he commit to electrifying the Harrogate line so that
we can have carbon-neutral travel?
On the hon. Gentleman’s specific point, I have asked the operator
of last resort to do a deep clean of all the trains from 1 March,
and that there should be a proper schedule in place and they are
cleaned. It is disgraceful that they should ever be turning up
dirty in the first place. There are also new trains coming on to
the network. As part of yesterday’s announcement, next year
trains will be brought up from elsewhere on to the network as
well.
Topical Questions
(South Cambridgeshire)
(Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities. [900526]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
I am pleased to confirm that today the Government will announce
the preferred route for the Bedford to Cambridge section of East
West Rail. Following public consultation, we have accepted the
East West Rail Company’s recommendation that route E, which runs
from Bedford Midland—a new station between Sandy and St Neots—to
a new station at Cambourne and through to Cambridge, will be
taken forward to the next stage of development.
All five proposed routes for East West Rail pass through my
constituency. South Cambridgeshire has a town, Cambourne, that is
so gridlocked that in rush hour, although it is only 10 miles
from Cambridge, it can take people an hour to get to work. Will
the Secretary of State support the East West Rail route going
through Cambourne so that we can get South Cambs moving again?
I have visited Cambourne, and the answer is simply yes.
(Kingston upon Hull East)
(Lab)
We have a real problem with predatory capitalist shipping
companies using flags of convenience to get round British
maritime rules. This encourages dangerous work patterns and it is
costing British seafarer jobs. Some of the worst offenders are
P&O Ferries, paying £1.83 an hour on Bahamas-flagged vessels
between Hull and the continent; P&O’s Norbay, a
Bermuda-flagged vessel between Liverpool and Dublin, paying less
than four quid an hour; and Irish Ferries’ Cyprus-flagged vessels
between Holyhead and Dublin, paying £4.66 an hour. When will the
Minister make sure that Britain has the maritime workforce it
needs and deserves? Will she meet me and the general secretary of
the RMT, Mick Cash, to discuss what we do to sort this mess out?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
( )
I am aware of this case; it was brought to my attention. The hon.
Gentleman will know that I regularly meet up with Mick Cash. I am
due to meet him quite shortly. I have raised the case with the UK
Chamber of Shipping. The hon. Gentleman will know, as he
represents a port constituency, that last year we signed ILO 188,
a convention that ensures the rights of seafarers—everything
about their basic needs, whether it is the time they should be
sleeping, where their sleeping spaces should be, mealtimes, or
decent pay. There are some contradictions between the cases that
he presented and what the UK Chamber of Shipping is putting
forward, so I suggest, if he finds it appropriate, that we sit
down with the chamber and P&O to thrash this out.
(Colne Valley) (Con)
T5. When the Secretary of State meets the Prime Minister and the
Chancellor later to discuss HS2, will he stress that it is of
course all about capacity, but also that it is not either/or,
because as well as HS2, we need the TransPennine upgrade,
Northern Powerhouse Rail, a direct Huddersfield to London
service, and an upgrade to the Huddersfield-Penistone-Sheffield
line? This would show this Government’s real, true commitment to
levelling up our country and our economy. [900530]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
Like any good northerner, I read my newspapers from the sports
pages backwards, so I have not got to the HS2 stories yet and
cannot really comment on what they might include. We need a
drumbeat of improvement across the north in our rail investment,
starting with the TransPennine rail upgrade, moving on to
Northern Powerhouse Rail, and then who knows what next?
(Easington) (Lab)
T2. I would also like to wish the Minister a happy rail
nationalisation day. I was rather anticipating a statement on it
today, but I thank him for the letter that was sent giving some
details. In preparation for the handover in March, will he look
at capacity issues? All too often, the line is overcrowded, and
trains have only two carriages, particularly on the Durham Coast
line through my constituency. When I contact Northern Rail, it
says that it simply does not have the carriages. Can we please
ensure that we invest in the necessary rolling stock to provide
people with the service they need? [900527]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. There is a huge
amount of new rolling stock coming on to the Northern network,
which will take off all the Pacers by the end of May. However, I
would be delighted to meet him to talk about those issues,
because there is a job of work to be done.
(Rushcliffe) (Con)
T8. A number of my constituents in rural areas of Rushcliffe have
difficulty getting buses to towns such as Melton and
Loughborough. I am pleased that the Government announced a £20
million fund to trial on-demand bus services in rural areas last
year. Can my hon. Friend update me on the timetable for making
that funding available and how communities can apply? [900534]
Ms Ghani
Absolutely. We are investing £220 million to ensure that we have
much better bus services in our urban and rural areas. Like my
hon. Friend, I represent a rural constituency. We have set aside
£20 million for demand-responsive buses. I believe that an
announcement will be made next month, which is just a few days
away. In the meantime, I suggest that she look at organisations
such as Arriva, which is providing fantastic demand-responsive
buses, so that her community knows what sort of pitch to put in.
(Chesterfield) (Lab)
T3. The recently leaked Network Rail paper, which showed that the
alternative to HS2 was 29 years of weekend closures and
interminable delays, should be all that we need to know why we
must get on with HS2. Will the Government not only commit to it
but get control of the MPs who are constantly undermining this
country’s most important infrastructure project? [900528]
Unlike the hon. Gentleman, I do not think that MPs who represent
their constituents, whichever side of the debate they are on, are
somehow undermining democracy—quite the opposite, in fact. This
is the biggest infrastructure decision that this country has ever
made and the biggest in Europe. It is quite right that it is
properly and carefully considered, using not only that Network
Rail evidence but everything else. The good news is that he will
not have to wait too long.
(Isle of Wight) (Con)
I welcome the fresh new approach of this Front-Bench team. Given
the importance of sustainable transport and sustainable housing,
do Ministers agree that building low-density housing on
greenfield sites is bad for sustainable transport, bad for
sustainable housing and bad for our environment, because it is so
car-dependent, which is why so many of our constituents object?
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
I commend my hon. Friend on that point and his “Island
Manifesto”, in which he makes that point. We are working with the
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure
that we move the dial on much better integration of cycling,
walking and public transport in new housing.
(St Albans) (LD)
T6. Many of my constituents have been affected by the redesign of
airspace, as many live below the flightpaths in and out of London
Luton airport. The Civil Aviation Authority promised a
post-implementation review of the changes, and the review of one
such route is now overdue by more than two years. What assessment
has the Minister made of whether the Civil Aviation Authority is
fit for purpose and adequately resourced, and will he meet me and
St Albans campaigners to discuss residents’ concerns? [900531]
I met the hon. Lady’s predecessor, , and local constituents just
before the election. I am well aware that the PIR is overdue and
I am very keen for the CAA to get on with it. I am happy to meet
her.
(Thurrock) (Con)
Yesterday, Highways England published the latest plans for the
proposed lower Thames crossing. In that set of plans, the
proposal for a Tilbury junction, which would divert HGVs from my
constituency road network, has been removed. Does the Minister
agree that, if we are going to get a road that the community does
not want, it is incumbent on Highways England to ensure that it
works for us?
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. I would be delighted to
meet her and the roads Minister, Baroness Vere, who is in the
Gallery.
(Ilford North) (Lab)
T7. Given that nearly three years have passed since the all-party
parliamentary group on taxis laid out the case for reform of
legislation governing the taxi and private hire industry, and a
year has passed since the Government accepted that case, when can
we finally expect them to legislate for the reform we need?
[900533]
Ms Ghani
I know that the hon. Member has been working incredibly hard,
along with members of the Transport Committee. We put together a
task and finish group to ensure that taxi services up and down
the country are far more equal in their service, while providing
security and safety for passengers. We will be issuing statutory
taxi and private hire standards shortly. Having had many
conversations with the hon. Member, I think he can be quite
confident that most of the issues raised will be addressed.
(Stourbridge) (Con)
Owing to the hard work of and this Government, work is
well under way to bring the west midlands metro line to the black
country. How can the Government further help to extend that line
to the jewel in the crown of the urban west midlands, which so
happens to be my constituency?
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. She is obviously going
to be a doughty campaigner for Stourbridge. This Government have
worked to make sure that progress continues. We have devolved
£321.5 million to the excellent Mayor, , in the West Midlands Combined
Authority, as part of the £2.5 billion transforming cities fund,
of which £207 million has been allocated to fund this extension.
(Oxford West and Abingdon)
(LD)
I of course welcome any review of the Oxford to Cambridge
expressway, but my constituents are worried that it is going to
lead to more delays to improvements on the A34, in particular
safety improvements and work on the Lodge Hill junction, which I
understand is further delayed. Can the Minister reassure my
constituents that there is no way any dither and delay on the
Oxford to Cambridge expressway will affect improvements to the
A34?
Yes.
(Leigh) (Con)
Many of my constituents have been waiting for decades to be
reconnected to the Liverpool-Manchester line. Will the Minister
meet me to discuss restoring Leigh to the national rail network?
Yes.
(Erith and
Thamesmead) (Lab)
My residents in Erith and Thamesmead deserve decent transport. I
share the concerns raised by neighbouring colleagues, my hon.
Friends the Members for Eltham () and for Greenwich and
Woolwich (), about the adequacy of
Southeastern services, and I also welcome the earlier answer from
the Minister of State, Department for Transport, the hon. Member
for Daventry (). However, what my
constituents want to know is when TfL will take over the
franchise to start delivering decent services. When is that date,
Mr Minister?
I hate to disappoint the hon. Lady in her first Transport
questions, but a whole bunch of conversations need to take place
first, including the working up of a detailed business plan. We
are working with TfL on these matters—there is no blockage in the
system—but these things do take time. I am afraid that I have to
disappoint the hon. Lady and not give her a date at this point.
(Hitchin and Harpenden)
(Con)
I have been working with Hertfordshire County Council on plans to
improve accessibility to Hitchin station in my constituency. Will
the Minister advise me on how best to work with Network Rail and
the Department to progress this? We think it will cost £3 million
to £4 million.
My hon. Friend is probably one of the busiest correspondents with
my Department. I will happily meet him—again—to talk about this
matter, because it is of vital importance.
(Bath) (LD)
Our ancient woodlands and veteran trees, such as in Prior park in
my constituency of Bath, are irreplaceable habitats and areas of
beauty. What efforts are being made to avoid the destruction of
ancient woodlands and chalk streams in the construction of HS2?
As the hon. Member will know, we paused any clearance of ancient
woodlands during the course of the Oakervee review, and that
remains the case. I regularly meet the Woodland Trust—its
arboricultural expertise will always far exceed mine—and I listen
to it very carefully.
(Wimbledon) (Con)
Commuters from my constituency too often experience delays, so I
welcome the Williams review, but evidence shows that the vast
bulk of the problems are caused by Network Rail. Will my right
hon. Friend commit to a complete review of Network Rail’s
performance and of solutions, including its possible break-up
into regional companies?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right: the railways are too
fragmented. They are not, as the hon. Member for Middlesbrough
() suggested, being
renationalised, but we do want to simplify the operation of our
railways. Network Rail is just one of the dozens and dozens of
companies involved, and it leads to an impossible fragmentation
that means solving problems is just too difficult. So, yes, that
is absolutely what we will commit to with Network Rail.
(Lancaster and Fleetwood)
(Lab)
As a long-time campaigner for the line to Fleetwood to be
reopened, I welcome the fact that the Secretary of State was in
Poulton-le-Fylde this week, announcing £100,000 for a feasibility
study into the line. However, I was concerned that he said in his
speech that one of the reasons why we are at the front of the
queue is that we have all the stations on the line already. Of
course, we do not; we do not have a station in Fleetwood. Can the
Secretary of State confirm that the line will be reopened all the
way to Fleetwood?
As the hon. Member will know, the feasibility study will look at
all options for Fleetwood to Poulton. I recognise the point she
makes about Fleetwood, but I am sure she will join me in praising
the work of the Poulton & Wyre Railway Society, which has
been campaigning for this since long before either she or I were
anywhere near the political scene.
(Kenilworth and Southam)
(Con)
Is it not true that the Government can remain committed to the
delivery of high-speed rail, but deliver it better than with a
project that, at the moment at least, will cost roughly double
what its perpetrators say it would cost, and the route of which
is designed only for speed although its justification is about
capacity? Do not the substantial delays in the delivery of HS2
weaken fatally the arguments against taking the time to find a
better way to deliver high-speed rail?
My right hon. and learned Friend always makes interesting
comments about HS2, but I listen to Radio 2 in the morning, and
that was not covered in its news bulletin.
(Aberdeen South)
(SNP)
Does the Secretary of State believe that the Secretary of State
for Scotland taking an RAF flight from Cardiff to London is
helpful in decarbonising the transport sector?
This is cheap political point scoring. I am sure that the
Secretary of State for Scotland is one of the best Secretaries of
State that Scotland has ever seen, and he strengthens the Union
with every action he takes.
(North East
Bedfordshire) (Con)
The Secretary of State will be aware of the implications of his
announcement a few minutes ago about the preferred route of East
West Rail for housing growth in the east of my constituency. Will
his Department commit to looking once again at realignment of the
A1?
My hon. Friend has been active in making representations on this
issue, which we hear loud and clear. Following the announcement,
I look forward to talking to him, to councils, and to the
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the
proper integration of housing, rail, and the A1 junction.
(Gateshead) (Lab)
Like my hon. Friend the Member for Easington (), I am a little surprised
that the Secretary of State did not make a statement about taking
back Northern rail into public ownership. It only affects in
excess of 15 million people, so it cannot be that important and
need a statement from the Secretary of State! The new publicly
owned railway will have the same problems of poor infrastructure
across the north. We need significant new investment—when will it
come?
I was trying to get an agreement from those who manage the
business on the Opposition Benches for me to make an oral
statement during yesterday’s Opposition day debate. That is why
there was no oral statement—I wanted to make one, but I did not
get a response, and that is why I was unable to. Investment will
now flow through from the decision made yesterday, and through
the operator of last resort.
(Preseli Pembrokeshire)
(Con)
Armed forces veterans deserve to be treated equally wherever they
are in the UK. Will the Minister promise that when we roll out
the veterans rail card later this year in England, it will also
apply in Wales, Scotland and elsewhere?
I am writing to the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and
the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure that that card is rolled
out across the whole of our country.
(South Shields) (Lab)
My constituent, Marjorie Johnson, was badly injured when, as she
crossed the road, a mobility scooter hit her full force. Seven
months on, injuries to her legs still restrict her mobility.
Because the scooter driver was not insured, no action has been
taken against him. What will the Secretary of State do about
that?
As part of the regulatory review of future mobility and mobility
scooters, I would be delighted to meet the hon. Lady to ensure
that the issues involved in that case are properly addressed.
