Electric Vehicles
(Chesham and Amersham) (LD)
1. What steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of
electric vehicles. (906108)
(Sefton Central) (Lab)
11. What steps he is taking to improve the (a) quantity and (b)
reliability of public electric vehicle charging stations.
(906119)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government have committed £2.5 billion to vehicle grants and
infrastructure to support the transition to electric
vehicles.
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, based in
Amersham in my constituency, has pointed out that the cost of
charging is still prohibitive for many companies. If a company
with a fleet of vehicles wants to install charging points onsite,
it probably also needs to install a substation, at a cost of
hundreds of thousands of pounds, which is prohibitive. The BVRLA
is therefore calling for a depot grant to help with those set-up
costs. Will the Secretary of State consider introducing a depot
grant to help companies with fleets to convert them to electric
vehicles?
We are always looking at what more we can do. We put in £1.9
billion in the 2020 spending review, and we have enhanced that
with an extra £620 million for the transition. I will always look
at what else can be done. Electric vehicles—I can attest to this
because I have driven one for several years—are dramatically
cheaper than equivalent fuel vehicles, albeit that the
infrastructure needs to be got right to make sure that they are
chargeable.
The UK needs 480,000 EV charging points if we are to transition
to electric vehicles. So far there are 28,000 publicly available
charging points, and only 1,000 on-street charging points outside
London. Last year, just 7,600 new charging points were installed.
At this rate, we will have to wait until 2080 for everyone to be
able to use an electric car. These figures are from the National
Infrastructure Commission. How does the Secretary of State expect
motorists to be able to play their part in the move to net zero
if the Government are not delivering the charging
infrastructure?
The hon. Gentleman presents a partial picture because he forgets
that there are 300,000 chargers installed at people’s homes, with
Government support. In addition, the figures that he quoted are
now out of date. There are 29,500 public installations, 4,500 of
which are rapid chargers—a 37% increase in 2021 alone. We will be
ready for everybody to go electric.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
It has been more than two years since the Prime Minister promised
4,000 new zero-emission buses—representing only about a tenth of
the English bus fleet—by the start of 2025. It took them a while,
and it has been a year since the launch of the zero-emission bus
regional areas scheme designed to deliver on that promise, but
the Government said it would only deliver funding for up to 500
zero-emission buses in England. One year on, how many buses have
been ordered through the standard ZEBRA process?
Seven hundred and five.
I very much appreciate that answer, but it is completely
different to the one I received to a parliamentary question on
Monday, which was that the Government have ordered zero buses
through the standard ZEBRA process since it launched but that
they expect to do so later this year. I hope the Secretary of
State might correct the record. The truth is that six months
after the Prime Minister made his 4,000 bus pledge, the Scottish
Government got on with delivering, with their SULEB—Scottish
ultra-low emission bus—schemes delivering 272 buses, while just a
fortnight ago Transport Minister announced the first phase of
the zero-emission bus challenge fund of £62 million for a further
276 buses. The nearly 550 buses delivered or ordered in Scotland
are the equivalent of 5,500 in England. The UK Government are
fiddling while the planet burns. When will the 4,000 buses be
delivered?
As we said in our manifesto, we will deliver the 4,000 buses
during this Parliament, and we are on track to do so. I have just
given the hon. Gentleman the up-to-date information on the number
already funded. The SNP spokesman makes a big fuss of this, but—I
do not think he mentioned this—the Scottish Government missed
their own legal emission targets under the Transport (Scotland)
Act 2019. They were supposed to reduce the emissions but they
missed the targets.
Transport Connectivity
(Ynys Môn) (Con)
2. What steps he is taking to improve transport connectivity
within the UK. (906109)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
We are carefully considering the recommendations from Sir Peter
Hendy’s “Union Connectivity Review” and we will respond in due
course.
I welcome Avanti West Coast’s £170,000 investment and the
creation of a dedicated driver depot in Holyhead, but direct rail
services between London and Holyhead, the UK’s second busiest
ro-ro port and the main route connecting the UK and the EU, will
reduce from nine per day prior to the pandemic to just two. What
steps is the Minister taking to help providers return rail
services across the UK to their pre-pandemic levels to support
connectivity across the UK?
I commend my hon. Friend on being a true champion for Ynys Môn.
We continue to work closely with her and operators on the
development of attractive timetables that are reliable, deliver
excellent performance and are good value for money. Thanks to her
campaign and that work, the two trains per day from London to
Holyhead will increase to four in May, and we are looking to
bring back more.
(Bedford) (Lab)
There are conflicting views on East West Rail as a project to
improve connectivity, but the one thing we all agree on in
Bedford is that the delayed consultation response, the potential
demolition of homes and concerns about the environment are taking
a toll on residents. We need clarity, so will the Minister tell
us whether the DFT is backtracking on the project? Will he
instruct East West Rail to urgently publish its proposals?
I will ask the Rail Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for
Aldridge-Brownhills () to respond in detail to the
concerns that the hon. Gentleman has raised as soon as
possible.
(South West Wiltshire)
(Con)
Will the Minister update the House on where we are with improving
connectivity between the south coast and the M4? Is the study in
his Department on track to report in September? Will it include
an upgrade to the A350 as it rumbles through Westbury and
Yarnbrook in my constituency? Can he give any commitment at all
to a relief road that will, after so many years, bring some
relief to my constituents in the town of Westbury?
My right hon. Friend has raised the question of Westbury and the
difficulties his constituents are facing. I have heard that very
clearly, and I will ensure that he gets a detailed response from
the roads Minister, Baroness Vere, on the progress.
(Easington) (Lab)
Ministers will be aware that the Select Committee on Transport
recently visited Leeds and Bradford as part of our inquiry into
the integrated rail plan. Has the current Transport Secretary
seen the former Transport Secretary Lord McLaughlin’s comments
that the Government’s revised integrated rail plan goes against
the best interests of people in the north of England? Is that why
he has reduced Transport for the North’s budget by 37%?
The Secretary of State has met Lord McLaughlin recently, and he
will no doubt have reiterated the point that I reiterate to the
hon. Gentleman and everyone who asks about the integrated rail
plan, which is that this is £96 billion of investment—the
greatest from any Government in recent history.
(Aberconwy) (Con)
The Hendy review recommended the creation of a UK-wide strategic
transport network. It also identified a gap in north Wales.
However, when Transport for Wales bid for funds to develop the
business case for investment to fill that gap, it was declined.
Will the Minister meet me to discuss and perhaps reconsider
that?
We are committed to strengthening transport bonds throughout our
Union. I note that the Welsh Government published a report
recently saying that they did not support key improvements to the
A55 in north Wales, nor the building of new roads, but I know
that the roads Minister will be keen to meet my hon. Friend as
soon as possible to discuss his individual concerns.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
Connecting communities to the rest of the UK is crucial, but not
at the expense of cutting off communities from their own
locality. I urge the Minister to look again at plans in the High
Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill that will see the Metrolink
from Piccadilly to Ashton-under-Lyne, which runs through my
constituency, severed and mothballed during the construction
phase, to be replaced by buses. It is unacceptable; can we look
at that again?
The Department is very keen to work with local communities to
ensure that the plan works. I know that the HS2 Minister, my hon.
Friend the Member for Pendle () will be keen to meet the
hon. Gentleman to discuss precisely that issue.
(Wellingborough) (Con)
Sometimes the Government get criticised over rail, but in my
constituency, we have had electrification, more trains and more
capacity going to Wellingborough, and we are now getting it going
north to the great cities, and we have our station being
redeveloped. It is in the middle of the country, and we have
Station Island there. Is this an example of what the Government
are going to do elsewhere?
My hon. Friend raises a very good point. Under the previous
Labour Government, 63 miles were electrified, whereas we, up to
the end of the relative period, have electrified 1,221 miles.
(Slough) (Lab)
Happy St Patrick’s day to everyone, but especially the thriving
Irish community in my Slough constituency. Industry data that I
have seen shows that while passengers are battling to get on
overcrowded trains, 21,000 fewer services are running today than
there were pre-pandemic. With more people returning to rail, and
to ensure that we do not have a car-led recovery, will the
Minister now commit to restoring the services that have been cut?
If not, why not?
Following the Williams-Shapps review, we have announced the
creation of Great British Railways
which will create a truly passenger-focused service for the UK. I
have already mentioned the £96 billion that has gone into the
integrated rail plan, as well as the restoring your railway
programme. The Government are focusing on getting passengers on
to rail wherever possible.
Bus Driver Shortages
(Stockport) (Lab)
3. What discussions he has had with (a) operator and (b) trade
union representatives on bus driver shortages. (906110)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
My Department continues to work with trade representatives and
operators to understand and mitigate the extent, impacts and
reasons behind driver shortages.
Happy St Patrick’s Day, Mr Speaker. During the pandemic, bus
drivers kept vital lifeline services going at huge risk to their
health. Many now face reduced pay and conditions and disgraceful
fire and rehire tactics employed by disreputable bosses, so they
are understandably leaving the industry in droves. What steps are
the Government taking to improve the pay and conditions of bus
drivers, to encourage people to take up jobs in the sector, and
to solve the current shortage?
I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to bus drivers, who
worked throughout the pandemic. The Government supported the work
of local bus services with £1.7 billion of funding throughout the
period. We do not intervene, however, on the levels of
remuneration in private businesses, with the exception of setting
rates for the national minimum wage and the national living
wage.
Mr Speaker
I call shadow Minister .
(Ilford South) (Lab)
Happy St Patrick’s Day, Mr Speaker. During the height of the
covid pandemic, bus drivers worked tirelessly, often at
considerable risk to their health, to keep our vital services
functioning by helping NHS staff and other essential workers
reach their destination. This week, a Unite the union survey said
that we now face bus driver shortages in 99% of garages, which
clearly severely hampers services across the country. The same
survey said that an average of 90% of respondents believe that
the mass exodus is a direct result of low pay and poor working
conditions. Those heroes of the transport industry clearly
deserve something better, so is it not high time for operators to
reward the efforts of our vital transport networks and the people
who work on them, and give those bus drivers the pay rise and
improvements in working conditions that they thoroughly
deserve?
Similarly to several hon. Members, my grandfather was a bus
driver so I always stand in solidarity with bus drivers across
the country. The Government have supported buses with record
amounts, not just with the money that we are putting in during
the pandemic but with a doubling of bus funding compared with the
previous spending review. We recently announced a further six
months of the covid-19 support package for the buses and light
rail sectors, worth a minimum of £150 million.
Rail Network: Accessibility
(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)
4. What steps he is taking to improve accessibility for disabled
people using the rail network. (906111)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
We have extended the access for all programme until 2024 with
almost £400 million to improve accessibility. The programme has
already delivered lifts and other access improvements at more
than 1,500 stations, with more to come in the next few years.
Mr Speaker
I hope that includes Chorley.
Disability access on the rail network is a major issue across the
country. In my constituency, campaigners in Levenshulme have been
calling for step-free access for years. We are making good
progress, largely down to the determination of the community
groups and local representatives who have brought the issue to
the fore. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that all
stations have step-free access as standard, particularly
Levenshulme, which is the busiest station with step-only access
in Manchester outside the city centre?
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for raising your own station too.
Levenshulme was nominated in the access for all main programme,
but it was unsuccessful. The hon. Gentleman had a conversation
with me about that. Let us be absolutely clear, however, that
more than 75% of journeys are through step-free stations,
compared with fewer than 50% in 2005. We are in the process of
setting the funding envelopes for the next rail control period,
which is 2024 to 2029. When further funding is available, any
station without an accessible route into the station and to all
platforms will be a potential candidate. It is an important
topic. I recently visited Eridge station to see a project that
had been completed there and as we know, it really makes a
difference.
Mr Speaker
Including Chorley—excellent.
Transport for the North and Levelling Up
(Kingston upon Hull North)
(Lab)
5. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the
potential impact of reductions in Transport for the North’s
budget on levelling up in the north of England. (906112)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Transport for the North’s core funding for financial year 2022-23
totals £6.5 million, a rise of £500,000 on the previous year.
This funding is in addition to the Government’s historic £96
billion integrated rail plan.
Shall we try again on this? On 18 November, the same day that
Ministers ignored TfN’s recommendations in the disappointing
integrated rail plan, Whitehall also removed powers from TfN and
levelled down its funding by 37%; the main devolved power
Ministers have left with TfN is over making staff redundant. Does
the Minister agree with the TfN chair, Lord , a former Secretary of
State for Transport, in his letter of 3 March, in which he warned
that funding cuts to TfN will mean
“down-sizing of the organisation which in turn will result in
redundancies”?
The right hon. Lady continues to focus on process while we
continue to focus on delivery. It is not for the Government to
comment on the business planning of a devolved transport body.
TfN definitely has enough money to complete its statutory funding
commitments, and it has far more money than any other
sub-national transport body. On the staff affected by TfN’s move
to become the Northern Powerhouse Rail co-sponsor, the Department
has commenced discussions on the TUPE process and as such I am
unable to comment further at this time.
Bus Stop Safety
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
6. What steps he is taking to improve bus stop safety.
(906113)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
Our national bus strategy has asked local transport authorities
to consider the impact of roadside infrastructure on passenger
safety and security.
After the tragedies in Plymouth, people, especially women and
girls, must feel safe while waiting for a bus, so does the
Minister agree that before Conservative-run Plymouth City Council
cuts 211 bus shelters—a third of all Plymouth’s bus shelters—it
must stop and seriously consider the impact that will have on the
safety of people waiting for a bus?
We take safety, particularly of women and girls, very seriously
and I realise the difficulties that have been faced in Plymouth.
The hon. Gentleman will know that we recently commissioned our
safety champions to work with stakeholders and they have now
provided 13 recommendations which will specifically look at how
we can protect women and girls on the transport network. I would
welcome further consideration on the importance of bus shelters
in use and also the illumination of those shelters as an
important factor in protecting women and girls.
(Don Valley) (Con)
Bus safety is important, but so is train safety. Has the
Department had any more thoughts about placing a simple sticker
on the back of each train seat advertising the British Transport
police text number so that passengers can summon help if required
and also asking people to refrain from using bad language? I
think the Minister will agree that this also fits nicely with the
criteria for the Great British
Railways headquarters competition in that Doncaster’s
champion MP not only did his apprenticeship on the railway but
also helped to secure a more pleasant trip for all future rail
passengers.
I am most impressed by my hon. Friend’s doughty campaigning in
wanting to headquarter Great British
Railways in Doncaster. Of course I agree that antisocial
behaviour on public transport is a blight; however, I suspect
that there might be unintended consequences from some on-train
requests, such as encouraging more swearing and passenger
confrontations, but I agree that we should look at doing more in
this area and a solution using positive messaging to promote
considerate behaviour could be an option.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Does the Minister remember that two years ago a car ploughed into
a bus stop in my Huddersfield constituency, killing a young girl
and badly injuring two other people? That driver has never been
found guilty of anything. He put forward a plea of
automatism—that he was not actually in charge—and a clever lawyer
got him off. What sort of justice is that?
I am sorry to be reminded of that case. We are currently looking
at how the justice system works for all drivers and I am happy to
write to the hon. Gentleman with an update on that piece of
work.
Train Service Frequency: Netherfield, Burton Joyce and
Carlton
(Gedling) (Con)
7. What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the
frequency of train services in Netherfield, Burton Joyce and
Carlton returns to pre-covid-19 outbreak levels. (906114)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The pandemic is changing travel habits and we are starting to see
some substantial changes in passenger demand for rail travel. As
covid recedes, we must ensure that services are adjusted to meet
changes in passenger demand. We are working with operators to
consider what further changes might be possible at these
stations.
There is a widespread view in Gedling that rail services could be
improved. For example, Carlton recently lost its direct service
to Matlock and many trains pass through Burton Joyce without
stopping. I continue to have discussions with East Midlands
Railway about how it might reach the maximum amount of services
in its agreement with the Department. I would welcome the
opportunity to meet my hon. Friend to discuss how Gedling’s
stations might fulfil their potential.
I appreciate my hon. Friend raising the matter and can see what a
hard-working campaigner he is for his constituents. I assure him
that we are working with the operator to consider what further
changes might be possible, subject to passenger demand and the
cascading of trains into East Midlands Railway. I am happy to
meet him to discuss this in more detail.
Rising Fuel Costs: Impact on Motorists
(Pontypridd) (Lab)
8. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to mitigate
the impact of rising fuel costs on motorists. (906115)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
I am working with my Cabinet colleagues to consider support for
motorists during these challenging times.
I place on record my celebrations for everybody celebrating St
Patrick’s day, and a happy Purim.
With fuel costs skyrocketing and the average family facing an
annual increase of £386 in petrol costs, my constituents are
being forced to choose between getting to work and heating their
homes. Does the Secretary of State agree that now would be the
worst possible time to introduce a tax hike of £255 on working
people who are already seeing their pay swallowed up by the costs
of simply living?
The hon. Lady asks specifically about the additional costs of
motoring during these difficult times with what we have seen
happen to the crude oil price. I gently remind her that she voted
against a measure in the Budget to freeze fuel duty for a 12th
consecutive year.
(Newcastle-under-Lyme)
(Con)
I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Harlow
() for the 12-year freeze in
fuel duty—that is extremely welcome—but given the increases in
pump prices and the costs for average constituents in
Newcastle-under-Lyme, we need to do more at the forthcoming
Budget. The Treasury is getting more revenue from VAT, so we need
to find ways to reduce that duty burden so that people in my
constituency can fill up and continue to go to work. Will the
Secretary of State speak to the Chancellor about that?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the pressures that
exist. As I mentioned, we froze fuel duty for the 12th
consecutive year, which means that it costs about £15 less to
fill up a family car than it would have done otherwise. He is
right to mention my right hon. Friend the Member for Harlow
(), who is perhaps the most
expensive Member of this House, having cost the Treasury tens of
billions of pounds over the years for this worthwhile saving.
(Angus) (SNP)
Alan Davie, Ian Roberts, Geddes and Laird are the hauliers who
keep the economy of Angus moving, and by the Road Haulage
Association’s estimate they are facing an 18% increase in
operating costs purely on fuel. What discussions will the
Secretary of State have with the Chancellor to get something
sorted to keep our economy moving?
The hon. Member is right to point out the fantastic work done by
haulage companies and all their workers. Over the next five
years, the 2022-23 freeze will represent £8 billion off the fuel
bill for motorists in this country, including the haulier sector,
which I recently backed with 32 separate measures to ensure that
it can continue to operate during what have been difficult times
post covid.
(Harlow) (Con)
It is a very happy St Patrick’s day in Ireland because fuel duty
has been cut in the past week. I thank my right hon. Friend for
what the Government have done on the fuel duty freeze, but the
fact is that motorists are paying £1.60 or more for their petrol
and diesel and we are heading for a de facto lockdown where
parents cannot afford to take their kids to school and workers
cannot afford to commute by car and have to stay at home. Will my
right hon. Friend make appeals to the Treasury to cut fuel duty
in the spending round next week?
I had not noticed that Parliament’s most expensive MP was in his
place in the Chamber. My right hon. Friend’s work has been
absolutely remarkable over the years: actually, after 12 years of
the fuel freeze, the average family has saved something like
£2,000 as a direct result of his excellent campaigning. I will of
course have further conversations with my right hon. Friend the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, but it will be for him to decide on
the next measures.
(Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)
The price of diesel is now so high that a typical van driver will
be paying £800 more than they were a year ago. Meanwhile,
wholesale oil prices have fallen by 28% in just one week. Those
are prices millions of working people and families simply cannot
afford, so why is the Transport Secretary still defending the
record profits of oil and gas giants as they swallow up the pay
of hard-working British people? Why does he not insist that any
fall in the price of oil is passed on to the price of petrol and
diesel at the pump?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right about ensuring that any fall is
passed on quickly. For example, I notice that Brent crude is down
to $100 a barrel at the moment—it had been as high, I think, as
$130 a week or two ago—and I want to see that passed on. But I am
very curious as to why, given her deep concern about the cost of
diesel, she voted against our move to freeze petrol and diesel
prices this year.
The Transport Secretary thinks he is on to a very clever point
given that Labour votes against Tory Budgets, but I remind him
that the last time the Tories tried to put up fuel duty, my hon.
Friend the Member for Leeds West (), now the shadow Chancellor,
forced a vote in Parliament to delay the increase. People need
help in the here and now as they struggle to make decisions over
which basic essentials to cut. This has to be a wake-up call for
the Government. The crisis shows exactly why this country must
never again be left dependent on the oil and gas of foreign
despots.
My hon. Friend the Member for Sefton Central () mentioned the statistic of
1,000 electric vehicle charging units outside London—a stat that
the Transport Secretary did not correct—which reveals the gross
inequity of access in this country to EV charging units. The
National Infrastructure Commission was also damning in its
appraisal that the Government have no plan to deliver
infrastructure. When will he publish the strategy on EV
infrastructure that the industry is calling for, to help
turbocharge the transition to cleaner transport?
I have to say again that words are one thing—I understand the
hon. Lady is doing her job—but action is another. When
individuals vote against measures that will freeze fuel prices
for British consumers and motorists, they can hardly then stand
there and say, “Why aren’t the Government doing something?” The
Opposition could help: they could vote for it. On EV charging, I
do not know where the stat of 1,000 chargers outside London comes
from. It is completely untrue. There are nearly 30,000 chargers
across the country, of which over 5,500 are rapid. According to
the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, we now have the
fastest chargers in the west. I hope the hon. Lady will welcome
that.
Rail Industry: Competition
(Folkestone and Hythe)
(Con)
9. What steps the Government are taking to encourage competition
in the rail industry. (906116)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
As we create Great British Railways
we will work with the private sector to deliver for customers and
taxpayers and restore competition through passenger services
contracts as soon as possible.
As international rail travel opens up post the covid pandemic,
Eurostar still has an effective monopoly on services through
Eurotunnel. What can the Government do to encourage other
companies, in particular rail companies from Germany and Spain,
that have expressed an interest in running alternative services
through the tunnel?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. I was
fortunate enough recently to visit both Eurostar and Eurotunnel.
What I can say is that the UK Government would support the growth
of international rail services given the significant benefits
they could provide for the UK. We stand ready to engage with
partners to facilitate new routes where there is a commercial
proposition to do so.
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
In York, it is about not just competition but collaboration. We
have 100 rail companies leading in rail operations and in
high-end rail engineering. We find that collaborative approach
not only benefits the industry but takes the future of our
railways forward. What is the Minister doing to invest in rail
clusters, similar to the clusters in which her colleagues in the
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are
investing in other areas of the economy?
What I can say to the hon. Lady is how important innovation is
within the industry. With the new relationship
between Great British Railways
the train operators and the innovators there are new
opportunities to trial and roll out innovations more rapidly.
Central to that will be the better management and exploitation of
data, and GBR will be in an excellent place to do that.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Transport Committee, .
(Bexhill and Battle) (Con)
We have gone from a situation where competition and franchising
delivered £200 million in profits to the Treasury to the
situation we have now, where the Government are funding rail to
the tune of £15 billion. Some review of costs is of course
inevitable. The Rail Minister spoke this week about workplace
reform, so will she set out in more detail what those reforms
will look like? Will the Government ultimately have the resolve
to see this through?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for those kind words. The
Williams-Shapps plan for rail, which we published last year, set
out the biggest change to the railway in three decades. We are
committed to bringing forward that sector-wide reform. The
country owes a great deal of gratitude to all railway workers for
their vital work throughout the pandemic in keeping the UK
moving, but it is important to recognise that the pandemic
ushered in a financial crisis across the sector leading to
interventions by Government to sustain the industry. Moving
forward, the railway must be financially and operationally
sustainable for the future so that it delivers the service that
passengers want.
Levelling Up: Bus Services in Newcastle
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
10. What steps he is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b)
affordability of bus services in Newcastle as part of the
Government’s levelling-up agenda. (906118)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Our levelling-up agenda includes investing £1.2 billion to
deliver better and cheaper bus services across England, as set
out in our bus strategy, which is part of more than £3 billion of
new spending on buses.
The levelling-up White Paper promises to bring local public
transport connectivity closer to London standards by 2030—so not
as good as London, just less worse and not for another eight
years. Newcastle needs affordable and accessible bus services
now, not the cuts we are seeing. Transport North East’s bus
service improvement plan sets out the improvements we need. Will
the Minister fund it?
We hope to make more announcements on the latest round of funding
very soon. Officials from the Department are working with
representatives from the city regions, including Nexus and
Transport North East, to establish options for integrated
multimodal ticketing. We have of course already announced £5.7
billion for transport networks in the eight city regions, and the
north-east, the North East Combined Authority and the North of
Tyne Combined Authority will receive their share of the funding
once appropriate governance is in place.
Airports National Policy Statement 2018 and Jet Zero Strategy
(Ruislip, Northwood and
Pinner) (Con)
12. If he will review the airports national policy statement 2018
following the development of his Department’s jet zero
strategy.(906120)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
We will not review the airports national policy statement at this
time, but will consider the case again once the jet zero strategy
has been finalised and there is more certainty about the
longer-term impact of covid on aviation.
As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on airport
communities, I know that many colleagues would like to know
whether, in the light of the jet zero strategy, we now have the
opportunity to spread the benefits of cleaner air travel to a
larger selection of airports across the United Kingdom.
My hon. Friend is quite right that the jet zero strategy provides
the opportunity to spread cleaner, greener air travel across all
parts of the UK. For example, the UK sustainable aviation fuel
industry could create up to 11,000 green jobs while helping to
level up with production facilities across the UK. We will be
looking at regional aviation in our forthcoming aviation
strategy.
(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
I say in response to the Minister’s response to the hon. Member
for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner () that the Secretary of
State committed to review the airports national policy statement
last July. It has to be done urgently. Since it was adopted four
years ago, our net zero commitment has become law, we have
adopted a carbon budget and we have held the chair of COP26. What
we know about the jet zero strategy and the implications and
difficulty of delivering sustainable aviation fuels means that
the review must surely come sooner rather than later to
incentivise change.
The point that the hon. Member misses is that we have also had
the jet zero consultation. A number of presentations have come in
on that and we need to consider them carefully. There is a lot of
interesting work going on and we will respond on that in due
course, which will give us the context to consider jet zero and
the impact of covid. We will then look at the ANPS again.
Net Zero Strategy: Rail Electrification
(Shrewsbury and Atcham)
(Con)
13. What assessment he has made of the potential role of rail
electrification in the Government’s net zero strategy.
(906121)
(Glasgow South West)
(SNP)
17. What assessment he has made of the (a) potential merits of
and (b) UK capability for accelerating the decarbonisation of
transport. (906130)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
Our transport decarbonisation plan sets out how we will
decarbonise the transport sector by 2050. Electrification will
play an important role in decarbonising all modes. As my hon.
Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (), the Rail Minister, has
already said, over 1,221 track miles of electrification have been
delivered in Great Britain since 2010, compared with 63 in the 14
years of the previous Administration, and we continue to expand
the electrified rail network. For example, the integrated rail
plan announcement confirmed that we will complete the
electrification of the midland main line and deliver full
electrification and upgrade of the trans-Pennine main line.
I thank the Minister for her answer. We are in negotiations with
Midlands Connect and her Department about upgrades and new
investments on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line, which is a
very important line in the west midlands. Will she give me a
commitment that she will look at that with a view to electrifying
the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line as soon as possible?
I can certainly give that commitment. I know that my hon. Friend
has met with the Rail Minister and will do so again. As he knows,
Midlands Connect is developing a business case for journey time
improvements on the line connecting Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and
Birmingham. This will assess the enhancements required, the
timescales for delivery and the costs and benefits of the
scheme.
Given the huge impact increasing transport costs are having on
the cost of basic foodstuffs and day-to-day living expenses, does
the Minister accept the Road Haulage Association’s estimate of an
18% increase in its members’ running costs? Is that another cost
that will fall disproportionately on the poor? What action is the
Department taking to ensure the poor are not expected to pay the
price for a Government looking to escape the net zero tariff?
The decarbonisation of transport will bring benefits to our
economy, our society and the environment. That is well and truly
set out in our transport decarbonisation plan.
A14: Funding for Junction 10A
(Kettering) (Con)
14. If he will ensure that funding for junction 10A on the A14 at
Kettering is incorporated into his Department’s road investment
strategy 3 from 2025. (906125)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The findings of the technical review for the A14 junction 10A
have been completed by National Highways and form the high-level
strategic outline business case for the scheme (SOBC). National
Highways have confirmed they will be happy to share the technical
review with my hon. Friend and meet him to discuss these in due
course.
Mr Hollobone
Residents in Kettering, Barton Seagrave and Burton Latimer
desperately need junction 10A to be included in road investment
strategy 3 from 2025 because with 5,500 new homes being built on
the Hanwood Park development to the east of Kettering, Kettering
will grind to a halt if this junction is not put in place. Would
my hon. Friend be kind enough to secure a meeting for me with the
Roads Minister so that we can progress this scheme?
My hon. Friend continues to be the strongest possible champion
for this scheme and for his constituents. I know he met the Roads
Minister to discuss this recently, but I know my noble Friend the
Baroness Vere will be more than happy to meet him again.
Discussions about this scheme remain ongoing.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Sheffield, Brightside and
Hillsborough) (Lab)
The road investment strategy will now have to take into account
remedial work on smart motorways. Just last week it was revealed
that for almost a week prior to a tragic collision on the M4,
vehicle detection technology, there to protect stranded
motorists, had been broken. What is more, overnight it has been
reported that one in six stopped vehicle detection cameras on the
M25 are currently out of action. These serious flaws in
safety-critical technology on smart motorways are continuing to
put lives at risk. I beg the Minister to urgently address these
serious flaws and, in the meantime, to reinstate the hard
shoulder before more lives are needlessly lost.
I thank the hon. Lady for her question, with which I have a lot
of sympathy. We are committed to making sure that smart motorways
are among the safest roads in the country. We want drivers not
just to be safe, but, crucially, to feel safe and confident when
driving on those roads. That is why we have listened to concerns
and are taking forward the Transport Committee’s recommendations.
We need to continue to work to ensure that smart motorways are as
safe as possible for all road users.
Private Hire Drivers
(Cambridge) (Lab)
15. What recent assessment his Department has made of the (a)
adequacy of working conditions and (b) level of job security of
private hire drivers. (906127)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government support the proportionate regulation of the sector
and will shortly be consulting on guidance to licensing
authorities on how they might best achieve that, while
maintaining high standards in safety, accessibility and workers’
rights.
During the pandemic, the support available for taxi and private
hire drivers around the country was patchy, and many experienced
people have been lost to the sector. What assessment has been
made of the situation and, in hindsight, what could have been
done differently?
I pay tribute to the sector for how it dealt with exceptionally
challenging times during the pandemic; the hon. Gentleman is
quite right to draw attention to that. These have been
unparalleled and difficult times across the entirety of the
economy. The key thing is that now we have one of the most open
societies in the world because of the success of the vaccine
roll-out. I am confident that the sector and the wider economy
will bounce back.
Topical Questions
(Ealing, Southall)
(Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(906133)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
I would like to update the House on the actions that we have
taken to clamp down on Russian interests in the UK. As hon.
Members have already seen, we have detained private jets that we
believe are owned by, or connected to, Putin’s cronies. I can now
confirm that we are investigating a small number of yachts moored
in this country, which we also suspect are linked to Russian
oligarchs. I have taken steps to ensure that they are unable to
depart, and investigations are ongoing. I can reveal that 10
Russian-linked ships have been turned away or redirected on their
course, and eight ships or their companies have severed their
Russian ties.
I also inform the House of conversations that I have been having
with my opposite number, the Ukrainian Transport and
Infrastructure Secretary, who has asked me to thank the whole
House for the cross-party support that has been provided. He said
that the UK’s approach has been pioneering towards his country
and that where the UK goes, others follow.
Mr Sharma
Let me declare my interest as a former employee of London
Transport as a bus conductor and booking clerk. Transport for
London has warned that it will be forced to cut one in five buses
and 10% of tube services if it does not receive a long-term
funding deal from the Government. It has been two years since the
pandemic began and the Secretary of State has failed to come
forward with this funding, despite offering 18 months of
bail-outs to private rail companies. When will he finally stop
playing political games with Londoners and provide TfL with a
long-term funding agreement?
That would be £5 billion-worth of political games—because that is
the amount that we have given to TfL to keep its services
running. That has been an incredibly fair settlement. The hon.
Gentleman talks about a longer-term settlement, but surely he
would agree with us that we should see what is going to happen
with the pandemic; as it completes, we are able to talk about
other things, including capital grants. However, I think £5
billion should be recognised by the hon. Gentleman.
(Newcastle-under-Lyme)
(Con)
The A50-A500 corridor is absolutely critical to the economy of
Staffordshire and improvements to those roads are vital for the
levelling-up agenda in north Staffordshire. May I ask the
Secretary of State to welcome the recent publication from
Midlands Connect proposing a number of improvements on that
route? Of specific interest to my constituents in
Newcastle-under-Lyme are the plans and conversations he has had
about improving junction 15 on the M6.
I commend my hon. Friend for the work he has been doing in that
regard. We are very keen to ensure improvements and we will make
sure that we continue to work with National Highways to try to
provide those.
(Wythenshawe and Sale East)
(Lab)
As you well know, Mr Speaker, I am a lifelong member of the
Fianna Phadraig Irish pipe band in Wythenshawe; it is my great
honour to stand at this Dispatch Box and wish one and all a very
happy St Patrick’s day. I am looking forward to getting home this
afternoon and joining my comrades to entertain the masses of
Manchester.
Worrying news has just broken that P&O Ferries has been
called to port as DP World, its owner, seeks the long-term
viability of the ferry company. Major disruption is expected. Can
the Secretary of State update the House about any discussions
that he has had with DP World or P&O Ferries about any
potential redundancies, and the fact that we do not want any
crews who are made redundant to be replaced by foreign cheap
labour?
It was remiss of me not to acknowledge St Patrick’s Day and
Purim. Both are fun and enjoyable festivals, and I know that
Members on both sides of the House and people throughout the
country will be enjoying them.
On a much sadder note, I am concerned about the news that is
breaking on P&O Ferries. I understand that it has temporarily
paused its operations, which is causing disruption in the short
straits between Calais and Dover, and at some other ports. I am
working with the Kent resilience forum, and I have just
instructed its members to become intricately involved, along with
other partnerships. I will be taking further steps later today,
which will include ensuring that my officials engage in urgent
discussions with P&O about the situation, which is of
particular concern to its workers.
Mr Speaker
If it is that serious and an emergency statement is required, the
Chair will always be willing to listen.
(Basingstoke) (Con)
T4. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said earlier,
thousands of electric charging points are being installed across
the country, including some in Basingstoke town centre, but what
support is available to give people who do not have off-street
parking access to charging points in residential
areas?(906136)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
I am pleased to hear about the good work that is being done by
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. We want to spread that
across the country. Since 2020 we have committed £2.5 billion to
support the transition to zero emission vehicles, offsetting
their higher up-front costs and accelerating the roll-out of
transport infrastructure. I should be delighted to meet my right
hon. Friend to discuss more ways in which we can support her
council.
(Warwick and Leamington)
(Lab)
T6. [R] For more than two months my constituency has been
gridlocked while the Conservative-led council and Network Rail
have been painting a bridge. Drivers are fuming, and firms have
lost between 25% and 75% of their business. Ahead of the
Commonwealth games and additional works in our towns, will the
Minister agree to meet me to ensure that there is no repeat of
this event?(906138)
I will take the time to look into the matter further, and will
endeavour to write to the hon. Member.
(Wellingborough) (Con)
T5. The Government’s proposal to move the headquarters of
the Great British
Railways out of London is a great levelling-up proposal.
Clearly the headquarters will have to be in the east midlands,
which is the poorest region in the country, and I would guess
that they will have to be in a town whose rail history goes back
to 1850, whose railway has probably been newly electrified and
which has a station island where there could be a development,
and whose council has welcomed the proposal. May I save the
Secretary of State a lot of time, worry and energy by suggesting
that he should simply announce today that the headquarters will
be in Wellingborough?(906137)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
My hon. Friend tempts me, but, as he will know, the competition
closed yesterday. We have seen some fantastic bids from local
authorities represented by Members on both sides of the House.
There is real enthusiasm, and not just in my hon. Friend’s
constituency. The shortlist will be announced in due course.
(Warley) (Lab)
T7. The Secretary of State talked about electric buses earlier,
but there is also the option of hydrogen. We have a
groundbreaking hydrogen industry, while the Chinese have a real
grip on electric bus technology. The West Midlands wants to buy
hydrogen buses, and Northern Ireland wants to build them. The
blockage seems to be the negative attitude of the officials in
the Department. Can the Secretary of State sort that out, not
only to help the environment in the west midlands but to give a
much-needed boost to an emerging British industry?(906140)
I am delighted to hear of the right hon. Member’s enthusiasm for
hydrogen, which I share. We are committed to rolling out a
decarbonised transport economy, and I can assure him that there
is equal enthusiasm in the Department. As for the scheme to which
he refers, I will look into it, chivvy it on, and get back to
him.
(Kettering) (Con)
T8. When will the superb canopy restoration work be completed at
Kettering railway station, and what other refurbishment and
improvement works are planned for the station?(906141)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. I know he has
been and continues to be a great campaigner for his constituency.
I can assure him that the Kettering station canopy works are due
to be completed in April and that a new national rail contract is
being negotiated that will consider future investment plans.
Mr Speaker
I call . Not here. I call .
(Aylesbury) (Con)
Over the past few weeks, contractors for HS2 Ltd have brought yet
more disruption and, frankly, despair to my constituents,
especially in Stoke Mandeville and Wendover. They have misled
property owners, they have gone back on reassurances and they
have started work for which they have no permission, which has
had to be halted. Will the Minister for HS2 please remind HS2 Ltd
that its pledge to be a good neighbour is not just a slogan, and
that it demands action?
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
My hon. Friend continues to be a real champion for his
constituency, as I saw at first hand when he took me on a tour of
problem sites across Aylesbury. I note what he says and I will be
more than happy to relay his message to HS2 Ltd. I also remind
him and other colleagues across the House that, following my
six-monthly progress report on HS2 yesterday, there will be a
meeting at 2 pm today with the CEO of HS2 Ltd, Mark Thurston, and
myself, which he will be welcome to attend.
(Oxford West and Abingdon)
(LD)
In the nearly five years I have been an MP, four cyclists have
died on Oxfordshire’s roads: Ling this month; Ellen last month;
Samantha in 2020; and John in 2019. Speaking after Ling’s death,
her husband James said that one day he hoped to take his children
to the roundabout where she died and to tell them:
“Look, no one else dies here because of Mummy.”
The county council has rightly made cycle safety a top priority
but it desperately needs Government help, particularly
financially. Will the Minister consider meeting me to discuss how
we can keep Oxfordshire cyclists safe and how we can avoid any
more senseless deaths?
I am terribly sorry to hear of the sad passing of the hon. Lady’s
constituents. We agree that infrastructure needs to be properly
funded and of the highest quality. That is why the Government
have promised an unprecedented £2 billion of investment in active
travel over this Parliament. I would be very willing to meet her
to talk about the work of Active Travel England and the ways in
which our interim chief executive Chris Boardman is rolling out
transport infrastructure.
(Bury North) (Con)
Rising petrol costs are one of the many reasons that Andy
Burnham’s original GM clean air zone plan is unworkable and
should be scrapped. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking
with colleagues from the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs to ensure that Mr Burnham’s desire to create the
world’s largest clean air charging zone does not place
unsustainable financial burdens on Greater Manchester businesses
and residents who are reliant on certain types of motor transport
and particularly vulnerable to increased petrol prices?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right; the Mayor of Manchester, Andy
, needs to go back to the drawing
board on this.
(Weaver Vale) (Lab)
Will the Minister join me and my hon. Friend the Member for
Ellesmere Port and Neston () in congratulating the
Unite workers on refusing to unload Russian oil at Stanlow in
Cheshire? What further measures is the Secretary of State
applying to sanction Russian oil and gas?
Yes, I do join the hon. Member in congratulating them. That came
after I wrote to all the ports and asked them not to allow in
Russian ships and Russian-connected ships. I should point out
that this is the only country in the world to have a
Russian-connected ban at our ports, and we look forward to other
countries joining our lead, just as Minister Kubakov
explained.
(Harrow East) (Con)
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on refusing the Mayor of
London’s decision to remove the car park at Cockfosters station.
Can it be a precedent, so that we can encourage motorists to park
at stations and then use the London underground network to get
into the centre of London? Will my right hon. Friend use that as
a means to stop car parks being removed at termini throughout
London?
My hon. Friend will have seen my action with regard to
Cockfosters station. The plan would have removed all but 12 car
parking spaces, and while I am keen to get people using active
travel and all forms of travel, the idea that only 12 cars a day
would turn up was ludicrous. It would just have meant other cars
parking on the streets and inconveniencing residents. I encourage
the Mayor of London to come forward with better plans than
that.
(Battersea) (Lab)
The most recent NatCen baseline report on the Government’s
inclusive transport strategy shows we are still a long way from
having a fully accessible and inclusive transport and active
travel system. Will the Secretary of State update the House on
the progress of his ITS commitments? In doing so, will he say why
the deadline to report accessibility failures has been missed,
why the consultation on bus stops has been paused and when the
stakeholder group will next meet, as it has not met for over a
year? Finally, how many staff are working full time on delivering
these strategic commitments?
The hon. Lady asks a series of very good questions. We are
working very hard on things like access for all on rail. She asks
a number of bus-related questions, and we have put money into
making sure that buses are more accessible through both signage
and different types of communication facilities for people with
disabilities. As she asks a series of questions, I will write to
her with a detailed response to each of them. I hope she will
find that useful.
(Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab)
In answer to Question 3, I think the Minister of State,
Department for Transport, the hon. Member for Pendle (), said he is meeting the
trade union representatives of the bus driver industry. Can he
confirm that he is meeting the trade union representatives
regularly? Has his Department assessed the levels of bus driver
pay and the impact of the same on recruitment and retention?
In answer to Question 3, I said that the roads Minister, Baroness
Vere, is regularly meeting trade representatives, not trade union
representatives. As the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead
() will know, the bus operators
are predominantly private sector companies. It is not for the
Government to dictate wages in the private sector, apart from
setting the national minimum wage and the national living wage,
which, I am proud to say, was introduced by this Government.
(Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
(SNP)
The French Government have recently decided that car adverts in
France must now encourage consumers to use more environmentally
friendly modes of transport such as walking, cycling, car pooling
and public transport as alternatives to driving. Will the United
Kingdom Government consider that one small step to decarbonise
transport and encourage active travel and living?
Our transport decarbonisation plan is world leading. The Prime
Minister has said that we would like all short journeys in towns
and cities to be walked or cycled by 2030. That is why we set up
Active Travel England, led by Chris Boardman. I would be happy to
meet the hon. Gentleman to explain that in more detail.
(Coatbridge, Chryston and
Bellshill) (SNP)
The Scottish Government are investing 10% of their total
transport capital budget in active travel options such as
high-quality walking and accessible cycling infrastructure to
support people to choose active and sustainable travel. Why has
the UK Government’s active travel budget failed to match those
funding ambitions?
We are investing £2 billion in “Gear Change” and our active
travel priorities. The climate sees no boundaries, so it is
important that we work together. I am in regular contact with the
devolved Administrations, and I think we can all learn from each
other.
(Strangford) (DUP)
Ministers will be well aware of today’s announcement by P&O
Ferries that there will be no sailings. I understand that 40% of
its holdings are owned by a Russian company. This has left some
of my constituents in Cairnryan unable to get home to Larne, and
it has left people in Larne unable to get to Cairnryan. What can
be done about this urgently? Will there be an opportunity to have
a statement in the Chamber as soon as possible?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
This emerging story is clearly causing great concern. I will be
in regular contact, and I will take any appropriate steps. Of
course I will meet the hon. Gentleman.
