Transport ministers were answering questions in the Commons.
Subjects covered included...
To read these in greater detail, either click on the link above or
see below.
Infrastructure Projects: Delivery
(West Bromwich East) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to expedite the delivery of
transport infrastructure projects. [906189]
(Workington) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to expedite the delivery of
transport infrastructure projects. [906215]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
My Department is looking to deliver infrastructure projects
better, greener and faster through initiatives including the
Acceleration Unit and Project Speed.
Given the impact that coronavirus has had on communities such as
mine in West Bromwich East, will my right hon. Friend throw his
support behind West Midlands Mayor Andy Street’s unprecedented
investment plans in our transport infrastructure, like the
midland metro, helping to bring it to places such as Great Barr
in my constituency, so that all communities can feel the benefits
of levelling up?
Yes, indeed. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for her campaigning
on this issue and, of course, to the West Midlands Mayor’s
relentless campaigning. I have been to see the proposed
extensions. They are very impressive, and the Government will
absolutely back any processes that will help to level up
communities.
The Heathfield bridge on the A596 at Aspatria in my constituency
crosses the Cumbrian coast railway line. It will shortly see the
second anniversary of a car strike, which still sees the main
arterial road reduced to one lane. Will my right hon. Friend work
with me and stakeholders to ensure that action to repair the
bridge becomes a priority and that this is not allowed to happen
again?
I have been to my hon. Friend’s constituency and I completely
appreciate how important the bridge is and the connectivity it
provides, so I will absolutely commit to working with him to try
to ensure that that connectivity is improved.
Transport Supply Chains: Covid-19
(Rutherglen
and Hamilton West) (SNP)
What recent steps the Government have taken to support the UK
transport sector and its supply chains during the covid-19
outbreak. [906190]
(East
Lothian) (SNP)
What recent steps he has taken to support the UK transport sector
and its supply chains during the covid-19 outbreak. [906220]
(Dunfermline and West Fife) (SNP)
What recent steps the Government have taken to support the UK
transport sector and its supply chains during the covid-19
outbreak. [906211]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Government have undertaken activity across the freight sector
to ensure that supply chains are maintained, from vehicle
inspections to drivers’ hours and the temporary establishment of
freight public service obligation contracts.
Covid-19 has placed major strains on supply chains across the UK,
and many businesses that rely on red diesel are concerned that
planned tax changes will have a detrimental impact while they
struggle to recover from the pandemic. Will the Minister make
representations to his Treasury colleagues to delay these changes
until enough support is put in place to develop green
alternatives to diesel-powered refrigeration?
The hon. Member rightly notes that those tax matters are for the
Treasury. I will be sure, in the early days and weeks of my time
in this brief, to listen to all representations from the sector
and consider any appropriate action.
[V]
Several of my constituents in the aviation sector have had their
terms and conditions of employment unilaterally changed, and for
the worse. While support for the sector is vital, surely when
executive bonuses and dividend payments seem unaffected, the
protection of workers’ rights is equally essential. Will the
Minister commit to supporting the Employment (Dismissal and
Re-employment) Bill proposed by my hon. Friend the Member for
Paisley and Renfrewshire North (), as well as the calls of the trade unions?
The hon. Member makes an excellent point. The workers to whom he
refers are highly skilled, highly trained and of enormous value
to the UK and the aviation sector. I urge all employers to treat
those who work for them with respect and sensitivity, and I urge
them to work in a spirit of partnership with unions and
employees.
Mr Speaker
Remaining in Scotland, we go to Douglas Chapman—he is not there.
Let us go to the shadow Minister.
(Reading
East) (Lab)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to say that my thoughts, and
I am sure the thoughts of the whole House, are with the injured
and all those affected by the recent bus accident in Winchester.
Local coach companies are much loved small businesses with the
owner’s name and the town of origin proudly painted on the side
of the coach. These are local small businesses that have served
their communities through thick and thin. However, day trips and
coach travel for football supporters have disappeared because of
the coronavirus, and four in 10 of these much-loved local
companies could go out of business this autumn, with the loss of
27,000 jobs. Will the Minister reassure the House that the
Government will take urgent action to support these family-owned
small businesses, and will he meet me and the coach operators as
a matter of urgency?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that very important point.
I know that that is an area in which he has a particular
interest. I would be very glad to meet him and representatives of
the sector to look at what may be done.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)
I echo the comments of the shadow Minister on the bus accident in
Winchester.
Yesterday, the British Airways chief executive told the Transport
Committee that he would protect BA at all costs. Those costs will
be borne by 10,000-plus jobless employees and the remainder whose
terms and conditions have been permanently slashed and are as yet
unknown. Many of those jobs and thousands of others across the
sector could have been saved had the Secretary of State kept his
word to stand by the industry’s side. When will we see business
rates relief for England and when will we finally see the
promised sector-specific support?
The hon. Member refers to some of the decisions taken by BA.
These are, of course, commercial matters, but, as we have been
clear, they are none the less ones that we regret. There are a
number of aspects here, but the thrust of his question is, of
course, with regard to support for the aviation sector. The
Government have made available £330 billion of support through
loans and guarantees across the breadth of the entire economy.
Aviation Sector Jobs
(Leeds East) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
helping to protect the jobs of workers in the aviation sector.
[906191]
(Twickenham) (LD)
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on employment
protection for people working in the aviation industry. [906243]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Government are working at pace to ensure the recovery of the
aviation sector, and Departments are working closely together to
progress options in support of individuals affected.
[V]
Giving evidence to the Transport Committee yesterday, BA boss
Alex Cruz seemed to suggest that the company’s notorious fire and
rehire threats were now off the table. However, I am informed by
Unite the Union that, although its campaigning has meant that
many of its members are now free from this kind of blackmail,
there are at least 800 mixed fleet staff who still face this
threat unless they sign new contracts. What steps are the
Minister and his Government taking to banish this shameful
practice once and for all?
As I have said, the Government are quite clear that they regret
some of the decisions that have been taken, although these are of
course commercial decisions. What I welcome is the agreement in
principle between BA and Unite on behalf of cabin crew, which
encourages the spirit of partnership between employees, the
airlines and the union, which I am sure the hon. Member will join
me in encouraging across the sector.
As has already been noted, while it is welcome that British
Airways has potentially dropped some of its bully-boy tactics of
threatening to fire and rehire its workforce on much worse
conditions, it comes too late for many employees who had taken
the difficult decision to take voluntary redundancy, such as the
single father in my constituency who could not afford to feed his
family on 40% of pay. What steps is the Minister’s Department
taking to support such individuals, because his Department’s
response to the Transport Committee report said that it was the
Government’s ambition to support these individuals where
possible?
It absolutely is the Government’s intention and desire to support
these highly trained and highly valued members of our workforce.
At the end of the day, we need to concentrate very much on the
recovery and restart. The Government have already moved quickly
to rebuild consumer confidence, collaborating with industry and
the unions and across the sector. It is through that that we will
ensure the vitality of the sector and those who work for it.
(Wythenshawe
and Sale East) (Lab)
Today marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Benedict’s visit to
Parliament when he addressed both Houses in Westminster Hall and
reminded us that, in the pursuit of public policy, we should
always keep the common good at the heart of it and that there is
an intrinsic link between human dignity and the value of work. In
that spirit and in welcoming the Minister to his post today, will
he join me in thanking the tens of thousands of ground handlers
in every airport across our nation who have kept our skies open,
working for companies such as Swissport, dnata, Menzies and World
Freight Services? Will he dust down that aviation-specific
package that his predecessor had and bring it back to the table?
I thank the hon. Member for making that absolutely superb point.
He is quite right to thank those who work in the aviation sector,
particularly the ground handlers, because of the way they have
continued to work throughout the sector, which has ensured that
vital freight and supplies have continued to come in, and people
have been able to get around when they have needed to do so. The
Government will be looking—as I will be in the course of settling
into the role—at any possible steps that we can take to help the
sector, which is absolutely vital for our country.
Rail Network: Accessibility
(Luton South) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to improve accessibility for disabled
people using the rail network. [906192]
(Hornsey and
Wood Green) (Lab)
What steps is he taking to improve accessibility for disabled
people using the rail network. [906195]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government have recently made £350 million available to make
accessibility improvements at a further 209 stations through the
Access for All programme. We also require the industry to comply
with current accessibility standards whenever it installs,
replaces or renews station infrastructure.
Since July, the lifts at Luton Airport Parkway station have been
in the process of being fixed, so people in my constituency who
are disabled, have mobility issues or have a family with children
and a buggies are not able to access the railway. I am pleased
that Luton station has been granted Access for All funding. I
spoke to the Minister six months ago about the decrepit state of
Luton station and the need not just to add shiny lifts to
something that is not fit for the 21st century. Will the Minister
give me an update on the much-needed renovation of the station,
the accessibility needs that have to be addressed and where we
are now?
I know, from when I met the hon. Lady virtually during lockdown,
how she aspires to a wider redevelopment of Luton station. At
that meeting, I promised to get Network Rail to continue its work
with Luton Borough Council to finalise a solution to deliver an
accessible step-free route at the station by 2024. Since then,
Network Rail has presented a number of options to the council
which are currently being considered.
Will the Minister accept a wider definition of accessibility and
comment on the plans to stop the free travel for under-18s, which
gets students all around London? Is there a plan for the
Government to assist Transport for London, given its financial
situation, to bring back free travel from half-term for
under-18s, so they can get to schools and to other pursuits?
That is slightly beyond my brief and slightly stretching the
accessibility definition to which I operate, so if I may I would
like to write to the hon. Lady.
Road Condition
Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to improve the condition of
roads. [906194]
(North Devon) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to improve the condition of
roads. [906199]
(Scunthorpe) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to improve the condition of
roads. [906217]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Government have undertaken the biggest ever pothole-filling
programme, with £500 million funding each year between 2021 and
2024-25 specifically to tackle potholes on our roads. Further
funding for local road maintenance will be agreed as part of the
spending review.
Karl MᶜCartney [V]
Drivers will be pleased to have heard that answer from the
Minister. She may also be aware that Lincolnshire County Council
has an oven-ready project to construct the North Hykeham relief
road, part of the original eastern bypass that I have campaigned
for, for many years. That section will give Lincoln its full ring
road, boost connectivity in the region and lead to further
economic growth. Will my hon. Friend and her ministerial
colleagues seriously consider providing the funding for that
project and for dualling the whole of the eastern bypass—locally,
we all know that that should happen—and perhaps meet me and
council leaders in Lincolnshire to enable the completion of this
important project which I have promoted incessantly?
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his diligent campaigning over a
number of years. He knows of the Government’s extremely strong
support for that project and the vital role it plays in his
constituency. My ministerial colleagues are currently considering
the business case very carefully and they will be very happy to
meet my hon. Friend to consider the next steps.
From my conversations with Devon County Council, it is clear that
one of the barriers to improving roads and filling potholes in my
constituency is uncertainty about future funding. Has my hon.
Friend looked into whether multi-year funding settlements might
be a solution?
Absolutely. The Government are keenly aware that local
authorities require certainty in funding to plan their highways
asset management programme effectively. Any decision on
multi-year funding settlements will be decided as part of the
ongoing spending review.
The A15, leading to the A46, is a major strategic corridor for
north Lincolnshire. Improved north-south connectivity via the A15
plays a vital function as a strategic economic corridor and is
critical for facilitating the movement of goods in connection
with heavy engineering and the food sector. It also provides an
important economic role, linking the midlands and the south to
the Humber ports, the refineries and one of the largest
enterprise zones in the country on the south Humber bank. Does my
hon. Friend agree that it is vital that such routes are improved
as part of the levelling up process?
Absolutely. My hon. Friend is completely right that improving our
road network is an essential part of our levelling-up network.
That is why the Prime Minister has brought forward £100 million
of funding for 29 shovel-ready projects. She will be pleased to
know that £4.5 million of funding was awarded to North
Lincolnshire unitary authority for such work on the A15.
Rail Services: North of England
(High Peak) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to improve rail services in
the north of England. [906196]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
I recently announced a £600 million package for the rail network
across the north, including £589 million to upgrade and electrify
the trans-Pennine route, which is part of a multibillion-pound
programme for High Speed North.
On Sunday, the new 195 trains finally started running on the Hope
Valley line, which runs between Manchester and Sheffield and
serves New Mills, Chinley, Edale, Hope and Bamford in my
constituency. While that is welcome news and something I have
long campaigned for, services are still not frequent enough or
reliable enough. To solve that, we need to increase capacity. May
I urge the Secretary of State to invest more in this
often-overlooked part of the northern powerhouse and finally
upgrade the Hope Valley line?
My hon. Friend is right to campaign for that. I am a great fan of
the Hope Valley line. I cannot make an announcement about it
today, but as he is aware, Ministers are investigating the
possibilities to enhance capacity, and I do not think he will
have to wait too long.
(Bexhill and Battle) (Con)
As more people return to work using our great northern railway
and the southern railway, what steps is the Secretary of State
taking to ensure that the railway network and public transport is
safe for increased passenger numbers?
As my hon. Friend knows, we took over the running of Northern
earlier in the year because we were so dissatisfied by the
progress, and it was then hit by covid, but I can report to the
House some numbers that might be helpful. Some 62% of workers
across the country are now going back to work. That is the
highest level since the crisis began. In particular, the figure
for last week—the week commencing 7 September—was 42% back on our
national rail services. Northern is doing a great deal of work to
make its services ready for people coming back.
Sustainable Transport: Covid-19
(Cardiff West) (Lab)
What steps he plans to take to encourage the use of sustainable
transport (a) during and (b) following the covid-19 outbreak.
[906197]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Government have provided the largest ever investment in this
area, with a package of £2 billion for cycling and walking and
£500 million for electric vehicle infrastructure and e-scooter
trials, demonstrating our commitment to a green recovery.
Like many Members, I have recently dusted off my bike, oiled the
chain, taken it off the wall and ridden it for the first time in
many years, exploring the wonderful cycle trails in my
constituency along the River Ely and the River Taff and out to
the UK museum of the year, St Fagans, earlier this month. It is
great to see a cycling renaissance, but what more can be done to
ensure that this country genuinely is world-beating on cycling—I
am sorry to throw one of the Minister’s clichés back at
her—because at the moment we are not?
I am delighted to see the hon. Gentleman’s enthusiasm for the
Government’s ambitions. As I set out, we will be investing £2
billion, which is the largest ever infrastructure investment. We
have already delivered £250 million for emergency schemes, and we
are helping people to fix their bike with £25 million-worth of
vouchers.
Cycling and Walking: Local Authority Support
(Chatham and Aylesford) (Con)
What support his Department is providing to local authorities to
maintain and increase levels of cycling and walking. [906210]
(Colne Valley) (Con)
What support his Department is providing to local authorities to
maintain and increase levels of cycling and walking. [906223]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government are investing £2 billion in active travel over the
next five years. That is the biggest ever boost for cycling and
walking and, as we heard in the previous question, it is welcomed
widely across the House.
Mr Speaker
It is a pleasure to see Tracey asking this question. We miss you;
we really do.
[V]
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I miss you all too.
Thanks to the Government’s active travel grants, Medway Council
has managed to upgrade many of its cycling and walking routes,
which is superb news for those at the Chatham end of my
constituency. However, at the other end, part of the Aylesford
towpath collapsed into the River Medway earlier this year and is
now closed to the 6,000-plus users per month. Despite Kent County
Council’s incredible efforts to find funds to repair the towpath,
it still faces a significant shortfall. Could the Minister offer
any guidance towards emergency central Government funding pots
that would enable the reopening of that incredibly popular path
for cyclists and walkers?
First, may I echo your words, Mr Speaker, and say how good it is
to see my hon. Friend? She is one of the few MPs I follow on
Instagram, from which I know what a keen cyclist she is—and,
indeed, what she looks like in Lycra.
The Government allocated the first tranche of active travel funds
to councils earlier in the summer; a bigger second tranche will
follow shortly. I am quite sure that my hon. Friend will be able
to persuade her county council to make the appropriate investment
in Aylesford towpath, and I would be very happy to work with her
to try to help that happen.
During the summer, I enjoyed a socially distanced walk with the
regional Canal and River Trust team along the canal towpath
between Marsden and Slaithwaite in my constituency. I support its
bid for £45 million of funding from the Department as part of the
commitment of £2 billion for cycling and walking to get people
out on the canal towpath. Does the Minister agree that supporting
such regional bids is a big part of encouraging more cycling and
walking in our regions, and that it is a vital part of our
levelling up the country and improving the health of our
constituents?
I happily agree with my hon. Friend; he is absolutely right. The
canal towpath network across the country, a huge chunk of which
runs through my constituency, is a wonderful place for walking
and cycling. He is right to identify that we have committed a £2
billion package to active travel. We have started to get money
out the door, and I very much hope that we will see schemes such
as the one he mentions benefit from it so that we can all enjoy
the countryside—and, indeed, other cycle routes through our
cities and towns—more in the future.
Rail Infrastructure
(Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to improve rail
infrastructure. [906200]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government continue to invest record amounts in our rail
infrastructure, with £47.9 billion to be spent over the next five
years.
Getting more trains into Carshalton and Wallington stations is
reliant on completing the Croydon bottleneck project to unblock
congestion on the Brighton main line at Selhurst. Network Rail
will finish its consultation on the project on Sunday. What
assurances can the Minister give me that the Government will back
the project and get more trains into Carshalton and Wallington
stations?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for continuing to champion
transport improvements in his constituency. My Department is
currently considering an outline business case to progress the
Croydon bottleneck scheme through our investment pipeline.
Public Transport Authorities: Buses
(Knowsley)
(Lab)
What plans he has to enable public transport authorities to
operate their own bus services. [906201]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government’s view is that the commissioning and provision of
bus services should be kept separate, particularly as new
partnership and franchising powers in the Bus Services Act 2017
are likely to lead to more local authority control and better
influence of local bus services.
[V]
I thank the Minister for his response, but I do not think it
amounted to an answer to my question, so let me try again. If
publicly owned bus services are right for London, why are they
not right for the Liverpool city region?
To be fair, the right hon. Gentleman’s question was, “What plans
he has to enable public transport authorities to operate their
own bus services,” and I gave the appropriate answer. However, as
he will know, I am quite keen, as a localist, to try to do some
of this, but the Government are committed to implementing the
UK’s first ever long-term bus strategy, which will be accompanied
by long-term funding. That strategy will focus on passenger needs
and set out how the Government will work with local authorities
and the private sector.
Integrated Public Transport Systems
(Hartlepool)
(Lab)
What recent representations he has received on the creation of
additional integrated public transport systems throughout
England. [906202]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Department receives requests through many different routes to
fund schemes that consider integrated transport, intra-city
transport and all the other types of integration.
As covid-19 breathes down the neck of my constituency and much of
the north-east goes into local lockdown, and with local access to
transport now needed more than ever, can the Secretary of State
tell the House why many residents have seen their bus routes cut
routinely over the last 10 years?
Good news for the hon. Member: this Government have committed to
putting a record amount into bus investment. As he will know,
4,000 shiny new zero-carbon buses are part of that plan, as is a
massive investment—a bus, cycling and walking package of £5
billion—in ensuring that bus routes can be expanded. We are
certainly on the side of him and his constituents when it comes
to expanding those bus services, notwithstanding the significant
challenges of covid.
National Bus Strategy
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
When he plans to publish the national bus strategy. [R] [906203]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government remain committed to a national bus strategy and
aim to publish it by the end of the year.
[V]
Covid is creating huge challenges for our bus network, and if we
are serious about improving services after the pandemic, we need
a commitment to long-term investment from all tiers of
government. In South Yorkshire, we have produced an improvement
plan for our buses, but we need support. So I ask the Secretary
of State: when will we see more investment from Government for
the sustainable, affordable and accessible bus service that we
all want?
I think that the hon. Gentleman is referring to his bus review
report, which I have read. It is very impressive. We share the
ambition to do much of what he has just said. The South Yorkshire
Passenger Transport Executive has received a £1.127 million
grant, as he will know, and the Sheffield City Region Combined
Authority has been allocated £703,614. We are putting our money
where our mouth is. We will publish our national bus strategy,
and I think he will find that it complements the bus review
report that he is behind.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)
Bus manufacturing is a key industry and companies such as
Alexander Dennis, despite being world leading, face huge
challenges. The Scottish Government recently announced millions
of pounds of funding for ultra low emission vehicles, which is
vital not just to the bus industry but to communities and
businesses across the country. Will the Secretary of State please
accept that our bus industry is teetering on the brink and needs
a green bus fund rolled out now, not after Alexander Dennis and
other companies like it are gone?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the need not only to
build buses but to turn them into green ones. That is why the
extraordinary investment we are making—sufficient to build 4,000
buses—will come forward as part of the national bus strategy. It
is important to recognise that there is huge turmoil, not just in
the bus sector, because of the ridership figures. I mentioned the
ridership figures for trains a moment ago, and it is right to
inform the House that ridership on non-London buses has now gone
back up to 58%. It is increasing, but that is all in the context
of how we take the bus sector forward, and we will say much more
about it very soon.
Seafarers: Furlough Scheme
(Kingston upon Hull East) (Lab)
What estimate he has made of the number of UK seafarers who will
be directly affected by the end of the Government’s furlough
schemes. [906204]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
There is no appropriate statistical breakdown. The Government’s
focus is to support the sector’s recovery and to stimulate jobs
and growth.
[V]
The job retention scheme has clearly helped businesses right
across our economy, including in the maritime industries of port
constituencies such as mine in east Hull, but when it is clear
that the shipping and ferry sectors may take years to recover,
the Chancellor is casting jobs in east Hull adrift by ending the
furlough scheme, with no replacement and no plan. What action is
the Minister taking to ensure that British seafarers, who have
kept this country afloat throughout the pandemic, do not bear the
brunt of that short-sighted decision? Will he please assure me
that the UK will retain the maritime skills base that is vital
for our future?
The hon. Gentleman makes a number of excellent points. I am
encouraged to see that some firms such as P&O have offered
their own job retention schemes with a view to reducing any
redundancies that have been announced. More broadly, I will work
with all aspects of the sector to hear their views and to see how
the Department may be able to help. Maritime 2050, which I will
look at with fresh eyes, gives a good opportunity to see what
policy objectives may be possible in the future, but I assure the
hon. Gentleman and the House that it remains a long-term policy
of the Government to grow the number of UK seafarers and to
support the sector.
Pollution: Covid-19
(Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)
What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to prevent an
increase in air pollution from transport and a potential related
increase in levels of covid-19 mortality. [906206]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
We are making active travel and public transport the natural
first choice for journeys. We are providing £2.5 billion of
support to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
Mr Speaker
We are now going to Swansea, via the New York backdrop, to
.
[V]
And a Welsh flag, Mr Speaker!
The Minister will know that congestion levels in outer London
have now grown to 150% of what they were before the lockdown and
that pollution causes both covid infection and death, so why is
she not encouraging the Prime Minister to continue to get people
to work from home and to encourage investment from the Chancellor
in public transport, when instead we are told to travel to work
by car and not to work from home?
I hope that the hon. Gentleman is not attempting to travel to
Wales via New York because that would definitely encourage
congestion. I can assure him that we are investing strongly in
public transport. We will continue to support the bus sector. We
have provided £218.4 million of funding on a rolling basis from 4
August. We have provided over £700 million-worth of funding for
public transport throughout the pandemic.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
I am pleased that the Government have listened to Labour and are
considering bringing forward the date for the phase-out of the
sale of new diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles, but how is the
Minister actually going to get us there? All we have had from the
Government lately is gimmicks like green number plates and the
suggestion that they will paint electric vehicle parking spaces
green. The charging infrastructure is woefully inadequate. Other
than painting everything green, what is her actual strategy?
This was a Conservative Government pledge in our latest
manifesto. We are accelerating the transition to zero-emission
vehicles with £2.5 billion of support. We already have one of the
most extensive charging networks in Europe, and we are ramping it
up all the time.
Bus Services: Covid-19
(Sedgefield) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support bus services
during the covid-19 outbreak. [906208]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Government are committing £27.3 million per week to support
England’s bus services.
Integration between all elements of public transport is critical.
Will my hon. Friend bring the Minister of State, my hon. Friend
the Member for Pendle (), who has responsibility for HS2 and Northern
Powerhouse Rail, to Sedgefield to better understand the local
frustrations and needs? We need to see rail investment delivered
in places like Ferryhill station, where my hon. Friends could
meet the team at the inspirational Cornforth Partnership to
understand the need for more and better buses, particularly to
better connect places like Cornforth to employment centres. They
could also visit magnificent companies like Hitachi in Cleveland
Bridge to understand how Government procurement processes need to
better reflect their commitment to local economies as we build
back better.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The Government recognise the
importance of multi-modal integration and connecting communities
such as his to employment opportunities. That is why we have made
£198 million available for the transforming cities fund, which
will deliver improvements to bus services, cycling and walking in
County Durham. My hon. Friend the Minister will be delighted to
speak to him further.
Emergency Funding Agreement: London
(Enfield North) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with (a) the Mayor of London
and (b) Transport for London on the expiration of the emergency
funding agreement on 17 October 2020. [906209]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Department regularly engages with Transport for London and
the Mayor, including in relation to understanding the impact of
covid-19.
[V]
Private train operating companies were told on 23 March, just as
lockdown began, that the Government would take on all their
revenue and cost risks and support them through the pandemic. By
contrast, Transport for London was not granted this emergency
funding deal until 14 May. Will the Minister explain why that is
and reassure Londoners that the additional emergency support that
TfL needs will be confirmed as a matter of urgency, rather than
being left until the eleventh hour like last time?
The Government agreed a £1.6 billion funding package in May. But
let us be clear that Transport for London’s finances were in
trouble well before covid-19, with a projected deficit of £220
million last year and £422 million the year before. Many of the
financial problems can be directly traced to poor decision making
by the current Mayor of London.
Support for Bus Manufacturers
(Scarborough and Whitby) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support UK bus
manufacturers in (a) Scarborough and Whitby constituency and (b)
England. [906216]
We are committed to providing at least 4,000 British-built
zero-emission buses through our £5 billion funding package for
buses and cycling.
Mr Goodwill
If 2020 has been a tough year for bus and coach operators, it has
been even worse for manufacturers such as Alexander Dennis
Plaxton in Scarborough. We have heard on a number of occasions
today of the £5 billion announced in February for 4,000
zero-emission British-built buses, but does the Minister agree
with me that we need to get this money out of the door very
quickly indeed if we are to avert a crisis on the production
lines?
I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. I completely agree
with what he says, and I commend him for what he has been doing
to support manufacturers in his constituency. The Government have
announced over £700 million in support for the bus and light rail
sector already to date, and we are also providing £50 million for
Britain’s first all-electric bus town and the £20 million rural
mobility fund, which will support additional jobs. However, I
agree with him, and I hope that we will make an announcement
soon.
Connecting Towns to the Rail Network
(Bolton North
East) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to connect more towns to the
railway network. [906221]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government have pledged £500 million to start reopening lines
and stations to reconnect smaller communities that no longer have
a station.
Is it not about time that Londoners had a direct train line into
Bolton?
Improving services to the north-west of England, including
Bolton, while balancing the capacity and performance impacts on
passengers, remains under constant review.
Coach and Bus Sector: Covid-19
(Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) (Ind)
What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19
outbreak on the viability of the coach and bus sector. [906245]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
I am the Minister for active travel, and these steps I am getting
now are quite productive for my step count.
The Department works closely with the bus and coach sectors to
assess the ongoing impact of covid-19 on their industries.
Many of the coach companies based in my constituency are
family-run businesses, and they inform me that they are facing a
year-and-a-half-long winter in economic terms as a result of the
covid pandemic. They are, of course, vital cogs in the tourism
sector, yet they cannot access covid-related hospitality, leisure
and tourism funding. What discussions is the Minister having with
colleagues in the Treasury and the devolved Governments to
address this anomaly?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. My Department has
been in regular contact with the representatives of the coach
industry, and we have been working very closely together.
Officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and
Sport also engage with the Coach Tourism Association via the
Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group. My Department has
helped to put together the package for home to school transport—a
£40 million package that is benefiting the sector. We have
regular conversations with the Treasury, and it is clear that the
£330 billion of Government support through loans and guarantees
can reach parts of this sector, too.
Topical Questions
(Ipswich) (Con)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
[906160]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
My Department continues to tackle the very many different
challenges that covid presents to all the forms of transport
discussed here this morning.
It might be worth mentioning that I visited London Bridge station
earlier in the week, where a programme that involves all the
Network Rail stations is being rolled out. It is using antiviral
cleaning materials, which means that surfaces become protected
from coronavirus for up to 30 days. It actually repeats this on a
21-day basis, and it carries out the cleaning during the night,
enabling people to return to the railways with the confidence of
their being covid-free.
In addition, yesterday, the first meeting of the Hammersmith
bridge taskforce took place. This major artery through London has
been closed for too long; it is now closed to pedestrians and
cyclists as well. The Department for Transport is looking to get
this resolved, and I have brought in my own engineers to do so.
Arguably the biggest transport issue that impacts on my
constituents in Ipswich is the Orwell bridge. At the moment, the
current speed limit is 60 mph, and when it closes because of high
winds, the whole town grinds to a halt. The economic impact of
this should not be underestimated. Highways England has a plan
involving a 40 mph speed limit, which will I hope mean that the
bridge can stay open even when it is very windy. However, I am
slightly concerned about the timescale. Will my right hon. Friend
communicate to Highways England his expectation that these new
measures will be put in place before the new winter season—the
windy season—when these closures will continue if we do not
implement the new measures?
My hon. Friend is right that the Orwell bridge is another key
artery for Ipswich. I know that it is subject to ongoing work by
Highways England that requires wind tunnel validation. I have
been promised that that work will be completed by the end of
September. From the Dispatch Box, I send a clear message to
Highways England that I expect to see it on my desk.
(Oldham West and Royton) (Lab/Co-op)
Our transport industries have been devastated by coronavirus, but
its frontline workers have kept the country going in difficult
times. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
At the outset of topical questions, with 72 hours to go before
the current rail franchise emergency measures agreements are due
to expire, I expected the Transport Secretary to update the
House. I am afraid my sheet is blank because no such statement,
comment or indication followed. That is absolutely staggering.
Are we to expect that, rather than something being reported to
the House, it will come out over the next couple of days or the
weekend, denying the House the opportunity to look into it? Will
the Transport Secretary commit to making a statement to the House
on Monday?
Let us be absolutely clear that in the last six months, with the
current management agreements in place, while many parts of our
transport sector have been denied the support they need, £100
million has been paid out to shareholders, many of which, by the
way, are foreign Governments. That cannot continue in its current
form.
The hon. Gentleman will know that the first emergency measures
were worth some £3.5 billion to ensure that our rail sector was
able to continue. I have already described how passengers are now
returning to them and the work that is going on to make sure that
they are safe to return.
As the hon. Gentleman points out, it is the case that the EMAs,
as they are called, come to an end quite shortly. I do not think
the House would realistically expect me to stand here and carry
out those negotiations in public, but I reassure him that I will
certainly return to make a statement in the House as soon as
there is something to say.
There are just 72 hours left to go—it is literally last-minute.
It is a timetable that would make Northern shy. I do not know
what is going on with the Transport Secretary.
We know that passenger numbers have fallen to 7% of what they
would be in normal times, yet rail fares are set for another
increase in January. The average commuter will pay £3,000 for
their season ticket, which is over £900 more than they would have
paid in 2010. To encourage commuters back safely, will the
Government commit to freezing fares and introducing part-time
season tickets, as Labour has proposed?
I hate to play politics at the Dispatch Box, but it is worth
reminding the hon. Gentleman that, under Labour, there were
inflation-busting fare rises that added 4.9% during its time in
office. Again, I want to make sure that we are speaking on the
basis of facts. I will return to the House on the emergency
measures.
It is not true to say, as I think the hon. Gentleman did, that
the number of passengers is down to a single-digit percentage. As
I said before, the number of passengers returning was at 42% last
week. It is incumbent on all of us to demonstrate that the
railways are safe; to take the railways from time to time, which
I am sure Members on both sides of the House do; and to reassure
people of the safety and efficacy of using the railways and all
other public transport systems.
(Clwyd South) (Con)
Ruabon station in my constituency of Clwyd South is the only
station on the Chester to Shrewsbury route that is not compliant
with Access for All. Will the Secretary of State meet me to
discuss the urgent need for step-free access at Ruabon station,
particularly given the projected increase in footfall due to new
housing and commercial developments locally? [906163]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
My hon. Friend makes an important point. The Government are
committed to ensuring that our rail network is more accessible.
We are in the process of making 16 stations in Wales more
accessible as part of our £350-million Access for All programme.
My hon. Friend the Rail Minister would be happy to meet him to
discuss Ruabon station.
(Rhondda) (Lab) [V]
One thing that makes the British countryside unique, special and
loved by everybody around the world is that, since the 1940s, it
has been illegal to put up great big advertising hoardings
outside towns and cities. That means that our motorways should be
free of advertising, and people should just be able to appreciate
the countryside. Unfortunately, on my journey back from London
last night, I saw 23 such hoardings that have been plonked in
fields by farmers and others. What is the Government going to do
to return the British countryside to the way it should be without
constant advertising along the motorway? [906161]
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I can confirm that
no one puts illegal hoardings on land controlled by the
Department for Transport or Highways England. Much of this
illegal signage is put up on land located next to motorways, so
this becomes a planning matter. I will therefore raise his
concerns, if he is happy for me to do so, with Housing,
Communities and Local Government Ministers.
(Rutland and Melton) (Con) [V]
My constituents are fed up with speeding vehicles and horrendous
noise pollution, especially on the so-called Rutland TT race
circuit. Will my right hon. Friend please consider running noise
camera trials in some of Rutland and Melton’s stunning 160
villages, especially Great Dalby and Langham? [906164]
My hon. Friend will be interested to hear that we have carried
out some trials using noise equipment and automatic number plate
recognition software, to see whether it is possible to match the
two up and use them as we might use a speed camera, but for
noise. Work is ongoing to compile the results of that study into
a report, so I hope to be able to report back to the House on
that. I agree with her that this is a problem. For example,
sometimes exhausts have been modified, both in motorcycles and
cars, and for no other purpose but to make a huge amount of
noise. We are certainly interested in finding solutions to that,
and I will report back to the House.
(Bath) (LD)
Before the summer recess, the Secretary of State told the Select
Committee on Transport about his plans to introduce hydrogen bus
towns and hydrogen hubs. That is an excellent opportunity for my
city of Bath, where having electric buses is a real challenge
because of our steep hills. Will he update us on those plans, and
especially on how cities such as Bath can profit from that, and
quickly please? [906166]
We are very keen to improve air quality, and that goes hand in
hand with reducing carbon dioxide—the two often go together. Our
massive investment in car electrification, which has not yet been
mentioned, means that we now have more charging locations than
petrol stations, and one of the best charging networks, in this
country, although it could still be better. We are also ensuring
that public transport and bus services switch over, and I have
mentioned previously from the Dispatch Box the 4,000 zero-carbon
buses that will be coming in. We will work closely with local
authorities such as Bath to create clean air zones and improve
air quality for everyone.
(Wolverhampton South West) (Con)
Will the Secretary of State work with me to see that Tettenhall
gets the train station it needs, to support the surrounding area
and to increase connectivity and infrastructure in Wolverhampton?
[906165]
The aim of the Restoring Your Railway programme is to reconnect
people and communities. I know that my Department has provided
feedback on the proposal to reopen Tettenhall station, and I
encourage my hon. Friend to contact the programme’s team to
discuss the next steps.
(Nottingham
North) (Lab/Co-op)
Just before the general election, the Prime Minister committed to
electrification of the entire midland main line, but since then
we have seen no such commitment from the Department. Will the
Secretary of State take this opportunity to reassert that
commitment, or was that just another broken promise to the east
midlands? [906168]
As the hon. Gentleman will know, we are currently delivering the
midland main line upgrade, which includes electrification from
London to Kettering, with additional electrification to Market
Harborough being developed. Further electrification of the
midland main line is currently at an early stage, but it is being
examined by Network Rail. The Department will continue to work
closely with Network Rail on the development of a proposal for
this, including approaches to advancing the delivery of
electrification across the route.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
There are over 360,000 licensed taxi and private hire drivers in
England, and the sector has been very hard hit. What assessment
has the Secretary of State made of the impact on the sector, and
will he tell us how he plans to measure the impact of his rather
disappointingly weak statutory guidance issued back in July?
[906169]
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the impact, and the
same is true of many other forms of transport. I pay tribute to
the work of taxi drivers and private hire vehicle drivers, who
have been incredible during this crisis and have often provided
the only form of transport available for people in certain areas.
The statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards have
considerable teeth, because for the first time ever we will have
national databases, and we will put enormous work into ensuring
that all local authorities and hackney carriage authorities sign
up to those and use them. I will say more in the not too distant
future about our support for taxis and private hire vehicles
through the pandemic.
(Loughborough) (Con)
Many taxi drivers in my constituency have raised concerns about
having to pay East Midlands Railway the full £600 fee for a
permit to ply for hire at Loughborough station, despite the
unprecedented collapse in business they have been forced to face
over the past few months. I would be grateful to know whether the
Minister has had any discussions with rail operators about permit
fees and, if not, whether it is something he would consider.
[906167]
Officials from my Department have been in discussions with East
Midlands Railway and provided guidance last week that should, I
hope, enable train operators to resolve this issue.
(Thirsk and Malton) (Con)
I declare my interest as an electric vehicle driver. The charging
network across Thirsk and Malton is pretty woeful. Many of the
connection types are different, the chargers are slow and even
the new BP Chargemaster ones for contactless payment cards often
do not work. What more can we do to prevent the charging network
from becoming a deterrent to the take-up of electric vehicles?
[906170]
I, too, declare an interest as an electric car driver. Although I
said, accurately, that there are now more charging locations than
petrol stations, it is still the case that in particular
areas—Thirsk and Malton is perhaps one such example—the charging
is not good enough. One issue that I have come across, as I am
sure has my hon. Friend, is machines that require sign-up to a
membership system or particular requirements in advance,
preventing me from charging up. He will be pleased to hear that
we intend to enforce, particularly on rapid chargers, a system
whereby it has to be possible for people to walk up and pay
contactlessly for the energy that goes into their car, without
signing up to a particular scheme in advance. We have taken
powers to enforce that system and I hope it will make his drive
easier, as well as mine and everybody else’s who switches to an
electric car.
(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab) [V]
Back in July, the Government committed to decriminalising moving
traffic offences, which will provide parity across England. Given
that Greater Manchester has called for this change for a number
of years, will the Secretary of State give an update on the
timeline for delivering on the commitment? [906172]
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. These powers have existed
in London forever. They prevent, for example, box junctions from
being blocked up, along with a number of other things. As he
rightly says, we intend to extend the powers throughout the
country and I will report back to the House on that shortly.
(Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab) [V]
I want to return to support for the aviation sector during the
pandemic. Thousands of jobs have been lost at easyJet and Airbus,
and easyJet has moved many pilots to part-time contracts and
closed three of its bases. Staff who are losing their jobs in
aviation or managing on part-time pay need the sector-specific
support package that has been promised. That will be essential in
avoiding more job losses, so when will we see that support for
the sector? [906174]
The hon. Lady is absolutely right about the impact on aviation,
which has been enormous, but so has the support, and that is
often not recognised. If I may detail it, there has been £1.8
billion of support through the Bank of England’s covid corporate
financing facility, which easyJet and others have used; £283
million has come from the coronavirus job retention scheme; and
56,400 staff have been furloughed, with the salaries that have
been paid worth well north of £1 billion. When those figures are
added up, there has been an enormous amount of support for the
sector. We are working with it every day and the best thing we
can do is to open up the routes, which is dependent on the
progress of the virus and the progress of technology to help us
beat the virus.
(East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (SNP)
[V]
As chair of the all-party group on disability, I have been
contacted about accessible transport by many constituents across
the UK. Next Wednesday, it will be two years since the
Department’s consultation on audio-visual announcements on buses,
but it has yet even to publish the consultation responses. We
must do everything possible to be a fully inclusive society, so
when will passengers finally get the benefits of audio-visual
announcements on buses? Will the Secretary of State agree to meet
me and the all-party group? What progress will the Government
make towards their 2030 inclusive transport strategy ambition?
[906178]
That is an incredibly important subject. The good news, which the
hon. Lady may have missed, is that during my time as Secretary of
State I have put several million pounds into precisely this issue
of audio-visual on buses. I will certainly write to her with the
details, and I will also arrange for her to meet the buses
Minister.
(Scarborough and Whitby) (Con)
This Conservative Government are putting unprecedented levels of
investment into the Highways England strategic road network. The
A64 Hopgrove roundabout upgrade is one project that is vital not
only to my constituents but to people from West Yorkshire and
beyond who suffer in the queues. Will the Secretary of State give
me an indication that this project is still in the programme and
of when we are likely to see spades in the ground?
My right hon. Friend is right about the £27.4 billion we are
investing in the road investment strategy 2 programme to upgrade
and build roads fit for the 21st century. There was very
effective lobbying on the roundabout, and I will certainly come
back to him in writing to provide more of an update.
(Slough) (Lab)
I know that you, Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State and the whole
House will share my grief about the fatal Stonehaven tragedy and
the environmental damage wrought by the Llangennech derailment.
It seems that the Government have finally listened to the Labour
party and look to be ending their failed franchise model. Given
the many billions of taxpayer funds that this will cost, it is
simply unacceptable that we have to read about these agreements
piecemeal in newspapers. As my hon. Friend the shadow Secretary
of State said, perhaps the Secretary of State can enlighten us as
to when he will make a full statement to this House outlining the
future of rail. Will he also confirm what percentage of
contracts, especially for HS2, will be going to UK suppliers?
There is a lot to cover there, but I will try to make it brief.
The hon. Gentleman is right about Stonehaven. I went to the scene
of the tragedy—I was taken over in a helicopter—and it was like a
Hornby train set had been thrown up in the air. Our thoughts and
prayers go not only to the three who died, but to those who were
injured, the emergency workers and the brave people who rescued
others—our thoughts are with them all. The House will have noted
that I issued the Network Rail interim report on Stonehaven a
week or two back, which comes to some very important interim
conclusions. I will update the House further with the full report
shortly.
As for the ending of the emergency measures agreements, I hope
the House will understand that it is not possible to conduct
negotiations with nine different operating companies in public—I
cannot do that from the Dispatch Box. As he knows, the EMAs come
to an end shortly, so I will of course be coming back to the
House. I would disbelieve everything that you read in the
newspapers; I do not think I have read a single thing that
relates to what is actually happening. I will return to the House
in due course to update it on precisely what is happening, but I
do not think that the hon. Gentleman can doubt our commitment to
rail—the £3.5 billion we have put in so far, and indeed our
support for HS2, which he mentions.
