Extracts from Budget debate: A303 - Mar 11
Thursday, 12 March 2020 08:51
The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rishi Sunak):...There is one more
road I would like to mention. It is one of our most important
regional arteries. It is one of those totemic projects symbolising
delay and obstruction. Governments have been trying to fix it since
the 1980s. Every year, millions of cars crawl along it in traffic,
ruining the backdrop to one of our most important historic
landmarks. So to the many hon. and right hon. Members who have
campaigned for this moment, I say this—the...Request free trial
The Chancellor of the Exchequer ():...There is one more road
I would like to mention. It is one of our most important regional
arteries. It is one of those totemic projects symbolising delay and
obstruction. Governments have been trying to fix it since the
1980s. Every year, millions of cars crawl along it in traffic,
ruining the backdrop to one of our most important historic
landmarks. So to the many hon. and right hon. Members who have
campaigned for this moment, I say this—the A303:
this Government are going to get it done...
(Central Devon) (Con):...The
Chancellor also raised a very interesting point about how to
categorise human capital as between day-to-day spending and
investment. I know he will be looking at that very closely. I can
assure him that the Treasury Committee will be also be looking at
that very carefully to make sure it is a rational and sensible
thing to do, and not in any way shuffling the figures around to
spend more and break existing arrangements. The announcements on
greater spending on housing, green investment, flooding
arrangements, roads, rail and the A303—thank you
for what you are doing for the south-west, Chancellor—are all
important, particularly given our historically low levels of
productivity...
(Forest of Dean) (Con):...In the
south-west, we have some important priorities. I was very pleased
to see the investment in the A303 which was one of the
key asks from my colleagues in the south-west, and in the A417
missing link in Gloucestershire. We also prioritised digital
connectivity, and I was pleased to see the £5 billion to be
invested in faster broadband through fibre to the premises and the
measures to improve connectivity for mobile telephony with the
shared rural network, which is very important in areas such as
mine. Education funding is also absolutely critical if we are to
improve skills. Moving to a national funding formula is incredibly
valuable, as is the investment in our further education
colleges...
(Bournemouth East) (Con):...My
constituents in Bournemouth East will welcome much in the Budget:
the £79 million in the transforming cities fund for the local
council to improve cycleways and roads; the fuel duty freeze; the
increase in start-up loans; the increase in the research and
development budget, which will be welcomed by our universities in
Bournemouth; and the important changes to infrastructure, including
the £600 billion over the duration of this Parliament to improve
road and rail infrastructure. I hope that some of this money finds
its way to Boscombe railway station, which has been hoping to
upgrade its lifts for the last decade. I hope the Minister, who
used to have this portfolio, will help me make that case. Of course
I very much appreciate the long overdue upgrade of
the A303 which is a vital
arterial route to the south-west...
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