Extract from Transport Questions (Commons): Rural Transport Connections - Apr 29
Friday, 30 April 2021 07:19
Sam Tarry (Ilford South) (Lab): Recent research by the Campaign to
Protect Rural England has found that the past decade of Government
cuts has seen the loss of 134 million miles of bus coverage,
leading to the creation of so-called transport deserts. There needs
to be proper funding for bus manufacturers—such as Mellor in
Rochdale, which I recently spoke to—that produce the vehicles that
serve rural towns and villages. Mellor produces state-of-the-art
low emission vehicles that are used...Request free trial
(Ilford South)
(Lab): Recent research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England has
found that the past decade of Government cuts has seen the loss of
134 million miles of bus coverage, leading to the creation of
so-called transport deserts. There needs to be proper funding for
bus manufacturers—such as Mellor in Rochdale, which I recently
spoke to—that produce the vehicles that serve rural towns and
villages. Mellor produces state-of-the-art low emission vehicles
that are used in many rural areas, but unfortunately it is a victim
of the big bus bias and is being excluded from the Government’s
“bus back better” strategy for producing vehicles at a 23-passenger
capacity or less.
At the same time, by the Government’s own figures, the rural
mobility fund totals just £19.4 million, a sixth of the £120
million ZEBRA—zero emission bus regional areas—funding for zero
emission vehicles. What assurances will the Minister give that
significant investment will be offered to ensure that such
companies have greater support to deliver the vehicles that green
our industries and ensure that our rural communities are genuinely
connected?
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (): There can be no greater champion of buses than the
Prime Minister, who has committed us to bus back better following
the pandemic. The House will be aware that he announced £5 billion
in funding for buses, cycling and walking, of which £3 billion is
allocated to buses. The roll-out of 4,000 zero emission buses is
crucial. We are keen to work with all manufacturers, large and
small, to ensure that we get the best technology available, the
best value for taxpayers and the best service for passengers...
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