Rail Privatisation Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)
1. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of rail
privatisation.(905924) The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr
Mark Harper) The private sector has played an integral role in
improving our railways over the past quarter of a century,
delivering a doubling in passenger journeys and an expansion of
services on offer. The current railways industry structure is in
clear need of...Request free trial
Rail Privatisation
(North Ayrshire and Arran)
(SNP)
1. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of
rail privatisation.(905924)
The Secretary of State for Transport ( )
The private sector has played an integral role in improving our
railways over the past quarter of a century, delivering a
doubling in passenger journeys and an expansion of services on
offer. The current railways industry structure is in clear need
of simplification and reform. Under a revitalised public-private
partnership, we will deliver a joined-up, customer-focused
railway, with an enhanced role for the private sector, working in
partnership with Great British Railways, to deliver for
customers.
The UK Government have now nationalised twice as many rail lines
as the Scottish Government, but continue to cling to the
ideological view that privatisation has not failed rail services.
Why will the UK Government not finally admit what everyone else
has known for over 30 years, which is that the disastrous
experiment with privatisation has been a disaster—a disaster for
passengers, taxpayers and the rail network?
Mr Harper
Because the facts simply do not support the hon. Lady’s
contention. On the eve of the pandemic, passenger numbers had
more than doubled since privatisation, services had increased by
a third and investment had doubled, including more than £1
billion of private sector investment, while the UK had one of the
best safety records for rail in Europe. There have clearly been
challenges because of the pandemic, and that is one reason why we
need to have reform. This Government do not have an ideological
view. We have already said, and I have said, that we want a
public-private partnership. There is a role for the state,
working with the private sector, to deliver the best services for
passengers. That is the right approach, and it is the one we will
continue to deliver.
Railway Ticketing
Mr (South West Hertfordshire)
(Con)
2. What plans he has to reform ticketing for railway
services.(905925)
(South Basildon and East
Thurrock) (Con)
18. What plans he has to reform ticketing for railway
services.(905943)
(Windsor) (Con)
19. What plans he has to reform ticketing for railway
services.(905945)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
We are delivering on the plan for rail commitments to improve
railway ticketing. We recently announced that contactless
pay-as-you-go will be extended to another 53 stations in the
south-east, and we are working with Greater Manchester and the
West Midlands on pay-as-you-go trailblazer devolution deal
commitments. Some 99% of all tickets can be purchased online or
through ticket machines.
May I wish the Minister of State a happy big birthday? Sarah from
my office thinks he looks no older than 25; I may not always
agree with her on that one.
One of my constituents, who works at a local station, reached out
to me last week with concerns about the Department’s plans. In
the email, my constituent said:
“By closing the ticket office, you take away a focal point of
contact. How is someone in need going to find me on a station
that is as big and spread-out as ours?”
Can the Minister reassure us both that those who need assistance
will be able to locate staff easily?
There is no better place to celebrate my half century than this
place, with friends and even greater colleagues.
I thank my hon. Friend—and I thank his constituent—for the work
he performs at Berkhamsted and Tring stations. These stations,
along with another 51 stations, will be getting pay-as-you-go by
the end of the year. We know that 90% of transactions are
completed outside ticket offices, and this shift tends to
increase for stations that operate pay-as-you-go. He asked about
ensuring that staff at ticket barriers are easily identifiable. I
believe that is the case, and we will certainly make sure, as
these reforms are rolled out by train operators, that it
continues to be the case. The proposals from train operators are
aimed at redeploying ticket office staff to parts of the station
where all passengers will access them and see them.
Will my hon. Friend confirm when my constituents will be able to
access the tap-in and tap-out service from the stations in my
constituency at Laindon, Basildon, East Tilbury, Pitsea and
Stanford-le-Hope?
Yes, I can. I thank my hon. Friend for the work he has done in
ensuring that part of the roll-out of the 53 includes four of his
stations. I can confirm that we are on track to get those
delivered by the end of the year. Across the rail network, that
will take us to more than 400 stations with pay-as-you-go.
I thank the Government for expanding the pay-as-you-go scheme to
stations in the Windsor constituency, which means that people can
quickly tap in and tap out when they commute. It strikes me that
people are under increasing financial pressure during these
difficult times, so will the Minister confirm that it is the
Government’s intention to roll the scheme out further afield, and
that people travelling in that way will get the best available
fare?
Yes, and I thank my hon. Friend for the work he put into ensuring
that his constituency station at Windsor is part of that. I can
give him that assurance. As well as providing seamless tap-in,
tap-out payments, fares will be simplified so that most adult
passengers can be confident that pay-as-you-go will be the best
price for them on the day of travel.
(Battersea) (Lab)
Many of my constituents in Battersea are concerned about the
Government’s plans to close ticket offices at Wandsworth Town and
Clapham Junction. Those closures will have a severe negative
impact on disabled people, including blind and partially sighted
people, and their ability to book assistance, buy tickets, or use
the rail network. Only 3% of those with sight loss said that they
can use a ticket machine, and nearly two-thirds said that it
would be impossible. Will the Minister set out what assessment
has been made on the impact of those closures, and will he
publish it?
The hon. Lady is a London MP, and she will be aware that when
London Underground did exactly the same thing for the underground
it was deemed a success. That is why the current Labour Mayor has
no plans to reverse it. The first group I met was that
representing disability and access issues, because I wanted to
ensure that the reforms best help those individuals. The aim is
to redeploy staff away from the ticket office, where not so many
people are seen, to the front of the station where all passengers
can access them. That will particularly benefit those who have
accessibility and disability challenges.
(Easington) (Lab)
I wish the Minister a happy birthday, but may I respectfully
bring to his attention the experience shared by Stephen Anderson,
who provided evidence to the Transport Committee recently? He
highlighted this issue, and said that if he requires assistance
he needs a designated point to approach, rather than having to
call out for help on the platform. In essence, Stephen believes
that ticket office closures are merely a means to cut staff. As a
disabled passenger impacted by previous Government policy,
Stephen expressed a view echoed by other witnesses, including
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. Does the Minister share their
concerns?
I thank my hon. Friend—I enjoy all the work that I do with him. I
take the point that he makes with regard to Stephen, but I
passionately believe that the best help that anyone can give in a
rail station is through personal interaction. That is difficult
when somebody is behind a glass screen, because they are not able
to exit that point and go and help. It was striking that the
recent report on accessibility by the Office of Rail and Road
showed that demand for passenger assist at stations had increased
by 68%. On that basis, and because fewer people are now
purchasing tickets from the ticket office—only one in 10—it
surely makes sense to put the staff out on the platforms where
they can be accessed, and where they can help and reassure people
and give them more assistance.
(Halifax) (Lab)
Halifax ticket office is facing closure. We know that one in six
journeys on Northern are purchased at a ticket office, which is
higher than the national average. There might be more of a case
for closing ticket offices if there was not near constant chaos
on rail networks in the north. Pretty relentless cancelled and
delayed services are not uncommon, with the fragmentation of the
tickets on offer resulting in everybody having questions about
what service they can get on and when. Why on earth are the
Government allowing the closure of the ticket offices?
This is ultimately a matter for the train operators, but they
have taken the view that their staff can be better redeployed
across the station concourse platform and barrier, accessing 100%
of passengers, rather than the 10% nationally who purchase their
tickets from a ticket office. Effectively, this is the railway
catching up with the change in passenger behaviour and demand. I
very much hope that in Halifax there will be a better service as
a result. Some train operators are looking to turn currently
unstaffed stations into staffed stations by redeploying, and I
again give the commitment from the train operators that no
currently staffed station will become unstaffed as a result of
these changes.
Mr Speaker
I gently say to the Minister that Chorley matters to me; its
ticket office is open all day, but the proposal is to have
somebody available from nine to four, which is half the time.
Please do take this up for people with disabilities, rightly, but
don’t forget that what you are being told is not the case.
Roadworks: Disruption
(West Bromwich East)
(Con)
3. What recent steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to
reduce disruption caused by roadworks. (905926)
(Rayleigh and Wickford)
(Con)
10. What recent steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to
reduce disruption caused by roadworks. (905935)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ( )
Roadworks are essential to ensure the safety and integrity of
England’s highway network, and it is also essential that utility
companies can install and repair the equipment on which we all
rely. Some disruption is inevitable, but the Government have
introduced several initiatives, such as Street Manager, to reduce
that. Another tool, lane rental schemes, allows local highway
authorities to charge works promoters for the time that street
works and roadworks occupy the highway. Charges are focused on
the very busiest streets at the busiest times, with the aim of
reducing congestion.
The west midlands has great transport connectivity, but we are
particularly vulnerable to congestion caused by roadworks. The
works to replace the central barrier on a 7.5-mile stretch of the
M42 are causing delays to my constituents and many others across
the region. That work is clearly important, but it is vital that
we minimise disruption. Please can the Minister outline what
steps have been taken to ensure that these works are completed as
soon as possible?
Mr Holden
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I was in the west
midlands just a couple of weeks ago visiting the RAC just off the
M42. The scheme between junctions 3 and 4 to replace the barrier
will provide increased safety to drivers, which remains our top
priority. Once completed, the new barrier will require
significantly less maintenance and repair after incidents, which
will further reduce disruption for her constituents. To minimise
disruption, National Highways has endeavoured to keep all lanes
open to traffic and is utilising the longer daytime hours and
good weather to complete the works as quickly as possible for her
constituents.
Mr Francois
I thank the Minister for personally endorsing my “Can the cones”
campaign and my associated Roadworks (Regulation) Bill, which has
its Second Reading in November. One great frustration of modern
life is spending ages crawling through a set of traffic lights at
a contraflow to finally drive past a large hole in the road,
immaculately coned off with no one doing any work on it. The Bill
is designed to make it much more difficult for that to happen.
Does the Minister have any good news at all that might help all
of us in our constituencies to can the cones?
Mr Holden
I thank my right hon. Friend for his excellent and continued work
in this area, alongside his colleagues in Chelmsford, Southend
and elsewhere in Essex. I am particularly pleased to see that he
has already managed to persuade Essex County Council to move
ahead with a lane rental scheme, and his regulatory reform
suggestions are being considered by the Department. I hope to be
able to update the House later in the year, because the progress
that he has suggested is directly feeding into the Government’s
general policy.
Cycling and Walking: Infrastructure
(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
4. What steps he has taken to improve infrastructure for cycling
and walking. (905928)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government, as the House will be aware, are investing more
than any other in active travel, with more than £3 billion in
investment over this Parliament, which enables the delivery of
high-quality schemes across the country. Active Travel England is
helping local authorities to deliver the greatest possible value
for money in that investment by ensuring that relevant schemes
comply with the guidance. It is also ensuring that any active
travel schemes funded by the Department are of the highest
quality.
In 2022, the Minister’s Department said:
“Increasing walking and cycling can make life easier and more
convenient for people, whilst helping to tackle some of the most
challenging issues we face as a society—improving health and
wellbeing, improving air quality, combatting climate change and
tackling congestion on our roads.”
His Department’s data confirms all that, including the role that
low-traffic neighbourhoods play in all this. Now the Secretary of
State has boasted that he has stopped funding for future LTNs as
part of the two-thirds cut in active travel, which the local
authorities do not have the money to build back up, due to the
cuts they have had. Why are the Government pandering to the
Twitter warriors and not the data and those in their own party
who support investment in active travel?
I find that surprising, if I may say so, because this Government
are not only investing, but seeking to reduce any possibility of
conflict between drivers of cars and cyclists. I do not think the
hon. Lady should disagree with policies that are designed to
reduce that conflict. What we want to see is more choice for
people in how they travel. Inevitably, many and increasing
numbers of people want to use active travel, because of all its
health and environmental advantages.
(North East Hampshire)
(Con)
While we all want to encourage and give people the freedom to
travel how they wish, including by walking or cycling, will the
Minister confirm that the Government are 100% not anti-car, that
they will allow people the freedom to travel when they want,
where they want, in their own vehicles, and indeed that blanket
20 mph zones, where congestion builds up, are not good for anyone
in local communities?
We are respectful of decisions made locally by local authorities,
but he is absolutely right that, as I said, we are seeking to
promote choice. That approach does mean that where people want to
use cars, they will be perfectly able to do so, and where they
want to use active travel, with all its personal and
environmental benefits, they can do that as well.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Sheffield, Brightside and
Hillsborough) (Lab)
One of the most effective ways to increase active travel uptake
is to improve road safety, but progress in this area has
stagnated: the last Labour Government cut road fatalities by
almost 50%, compared with a mere 8% reduction under this
Conservative Government. Back in 2021, Ministers promised a new
road safety strategic framework, but two years and two
Secretaries of State later all we have been told is that it will
be published in due course. Meanwhile, countless people remain
hesitant to embrace active travel due to safety concerns. Will
the Minister move beyond the soundbites and provide some much
needed clarity on when the strategy will finally see the light of
day?
We take safety extremely seriously and have done a lot of work on
this issue over the years. The whole point of having dedicated
active travel infrastructure on the scale that it is being rolled
out at the moment is to segregate and improve safety for those
using active travel. I am sure that the hon. Lady will welcome
the excellent work done on connected and autonomous vehicles,
because they offer a potentially revolutionary improvement in
safety over time.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
In answer to my written question, it was confirmed that active
travel was down to just 1% of departmental spending last year—but
that is positively lavish compared with 0.4% this year and 0.5%
next year. The Scottish Government will spend £320 million—10% of
their transport budget—which is greater than the active travel
budget for the whole of England. Will the Minister urgently
review active travel spend to ensure that the poorest, who rely
more on walking and wheeling to get around, are not
disproportionately impacted during this Tory cost of living
crisis?
The fact of the matter is, through both covid and the Barnett
formula, the Scottish Government have been funded at levels that
vastly exceed those available in England. If one is a
Herefordian, as I am, one looks with astonishment at the
increased levels of spending north of the border and wishes that,
in many ways, a similar rural landscape such as our own were
supported as well as that.
Heathrow Airport Expansion: Funding
(Hayes and Harlington)
(Lab)
5. Whether he has had recent discussions with relevant
stakeholders on proposals for funding the expansion of Heathrow
airport. (905929)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The answer is no.
Well, that answer was succinct, if nothing else. The Minister
will know that a new chief executive has been appointed at
Heathrow Airport Ltd, and he will inevitably meet that chief
executive. When he does, will he take him through the costings of
any road and rail infrastructure associated with the proposed
development of a third runway? Heathrow has offered £2 billion to
cover the cost. The Government’s airports commission calculated
the cost at £5 billion, but we now believe that, because of the
tunnelling under the M25 and the road links and rail links—in
particular, the rail links for western and southern access—the
cost of the scheme could be between £10 billion and £20 billion.
Will he make it clear to the chief executive of Heathrow that not
a penny of taxpayers’ money will go into subsidising the profits
of the overseas owners of Heathrow?
It appears that the right hon. Gentleman knows a lot more about
this than I do. Any expansion of Heathrow is a matter for it, as
he will know. If that is financed, it will be by private finance
for what is a private sector project. The Department has no
position on this matter, because at some point the Secretary of
State may need to be invited to decide on any development consent
order, so we do not take a view.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)
While Heathrow and Gatwick set out plans to expand, the
Government’s regional airport strategy has been seriously
undermined by the—hopefully—temporary closure of Doncaster
Sheffield airport. The Secretary of State has the power to
protect the air space around the airport while Doncaster council
undertakes negotiations with Peel on the lease. Will the
Secretary of State do that?
We recognise this important issue. The Secretary of State has had
the question put to him by local stakeholders. He is considering
the matter and will respond in due course.
Low-emission Buses: Local Authorities
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
6. What steps his Department is taking to support local
authorities to transition to low-emission buses. (905930)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ( )
Our policy has been to support the introduction of zero-emission
buses, which will reduce emissions, support manufacturing and
improve the passenger experience. The Government are committed to
supporting the introduction of 4,000 zero-emission buses and
achieving an all zero-emission bus fleet across the UK. I am
pleased to inform the House that since February 2020, an
estimated 4,200 zero-emission buses have been funded across the
UK, including Scotland, of which 1,600 are on the road.
Lothian Buses, which covers my constituency, has removed 15,000
tonnes of carbon dioxide from its footprint, including by
introducing several electric buses. Together with the tram and
the low-emission zone, that is helping to reduce pollution,
particularly in Corstorphine, which has one of the worst air
pollution records in the country. Would the Government consider
giving all local authorities greater powers and resources to
franchise bus services and simplify the application system, to
reverse the ban on local services setting up their own companies?
How will the Government improve the measures already mentioned
and introduced, as we fight to tackle what is still 25% of the
pollution that we face every day?
Mr Holden
I thank the hon. Lady for her multiple questions. The Government
have committed to look into municipal buses by the end of the
Parliament. On devolution, we are happy to work with local
authorities right across England and Wales on devolution
settlements and what more can be done. I was delighted to visit
Lothian Buses to see its fantastic red, white and gold livery
right across the streets of Edinburgh and the wider region. I saw
the excellent work it is doing on the ground, not just on local
bus service provision but being a responsive service to the local
community she represents.
(Peterborough) (Con)
Low-emission bus rollout in Cambridgeshire is going good guns
but, sadly, all in Cambridge. At the same time, the 36 bus, which
connects the village of Thorney with Eye and Peterborough, will
be axed by Stagecoach at the end of the month. So many people
rely on that service in Thorney to go to doctor’s appointments,
see family and friends and go shopping. Shockingly, the combined
authority Mayor has known about the axing since May and has done
nothing—squat. Can the Minister think of a better way to spend
the millions given to the Mayor for bus rollout and to save the
36 bus for all those people who rely on it?
Mr Speaker
We will all miss the bus at this rate. Come on.
Mr Holden
My hon. Friend is a massive champion for his constituents across
Peterborough. The 36 bus is clearly a vital local link. I
encourage him to have those conversations with the combined
authority Mayor. We have made the bus service improvement plan
flexible to protect services. I will make representations to that
end on his behalf. Hopefully, he and the Mayor can come to an
arrangement to ensure that all the funding we have put into that
combined authority area really benefits the people of
Peterborough.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Wakefield)
(Lab/Co-op)
The Government’s commitment to deliver 4,000 zero-emission buses
by the end of the Parliament lies in tatters and is in the realms
of fantasy. No creative counting can hide the fact that there are
still only six buses funded through the zero emission bus
regional areas scheme on the roads. Will the Minister come clean
with Parliament and passengers, and admit that the Government
will fail in spectacular style in their promise to deliver those
4,000 zero-emission buses on the road? Will the Minister also
take the opportunity to exercise a little humility and tell us
how many buses have been ordered—not funding allocated, as that
does not mean anything to anyone? How many will be manufactured
in the UK? How many will realistically be on the road by the end
of the Parliament?
Mr Holden
If the hon. Gentleman had waited for a response to his written
parliamentary question, which is coming later day, he would have
noticed that 68 buses from the ZEBRA—zero emission bus regional
areas—scheme are now on the road. He seems to have failed to
realise that that is out of a total of 1,604 that are on the
road, from out of the 4,233 that have been funded across the UK.
He might want to ignore previous schemes, but it is very
important that we look at schemes right across the country. On
top of that, he asked how many had been ordered across the
country: 2,464 have been ordered. We are making great progress
towards the over 4,000 by the end of the Parliament. If he would
like to provide some extra cash or outline a Labour policy that
will do anything for bus users in this area, I would really love
to hear it.
Railway Ticket Office Closures
(Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab)
7. What assessment his Department has made of the potential
impact of ticket office closures on rail users. (905931)
(Manchester, Withington)
(Lab)
9. What assessment his Department has made of the potential
impact of ticket office closures on rail users. (905934)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
As I set out to the House last week, these industry-led reforms
are about modernising the passenger experience. When proposing
major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures,
operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the
proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers,
and to include that in the notice of the proposal sent to other
operators and passenger groups.
Dr Huq
Mr Speaker, you yourself said that this news has been most
unwelcome for the elderly, disabled and blind. Was an impact
equality assessment carried out? I am lucky that is keeping all my Transport for
London stations open, but rail workers risked their lives for us
all. They were not watching box sets of Bridgerton during covid.
Can the Minister commit to saying there will be no
redundancies?
Mr Speaker, I will come back to you with regards to Chorley
station. I repeat: the aim of the train operators is to redeploy
staff to where they can interact with all passengers, rather than
just the one in 10 who purchase tickets from ticket offices. Some
99% of all transactions can now be completed online or at ticket
machines. I will just repeat the point that the Labour Mayor of
London seems to think that getting more staff out and helping
more passengers is a good way to operate, because that is exactly
how London Underground continues to operate, as well as other
operators across the country, including the Tyne and Wear
Metro.
I have a lot of respect for the Minister, who I believe wants to
do the right thing, but the rosy picture he portrays is not borne
out by the reality. In my constituency, at Burnage station, the
ticket office opening from 6.30 am to 1 pm is being replaced by a
person from midday to 2 pm, at East Didsbury, where the ticket
office has the same six-and-a-half hour opening, it is being
replaced by a person for two hours from 9.30 am, and at Mauldeth
Road, the ticket office that opens from 7 am to 1.50 pm is
replaced by a person from 9.30 am to 11 am. All three stations
have massively reduced hours—by over two thirds—and, importantly,
will no longer be covered by a member of staff at rush hour. How
can the proposals result in anything other than a much worse
service for my constituents and other passengers? Will he ask
Northern to rethink?
The train operators’ proposals, as I have stated, are to ensure
that ticket office staff can be with members of the public and
passengers where they best need them. It is also undoubtedly the
case that some ticket offices are selling just one ticket per
hour, so it may well be that train operators are looking at
exactly which hours are best attainable. As I mentioned, there is
one particular train operator that is currently looking to staff
18 currently unstaffed stations by spreading and redeploying
staff across its network. I will be having conversations with the
train operators as the proposals move along. I will certainly
take forward the hon. Member’s point and I thank him for his
engagement earlier this week on High Speed 2.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)
The Minister has managed to unite Labour MPs, his own Back
Benchers, you Mr Speaker, disability groups, trade unions and
consumer groups in their concern about these closures. Even
former “Pointless” presenter Richard Osman has voiced his
concerns. And it is little wonder, because this consultation is
completely pointless. There are just 21 days for people to voice
their concerns, no equality impact assessments, and no answers on
job security, accessibility or digital ticketing. Will the
Minister think again, acknowledge the consultation is a sham,
pause it and go back to the drawing board?
The consultation is under the ticketing and settlement agreement,
which I believe was put in place under the last Labour
Government, so I very much believe it is a good and robust
process. It allows for a period of time for members of the public
and hon. Members in this place to give their views on individual
stations. There is then a 35-day period for passenger groups to
take them into account, work with the train operators to try to
reach an agreement, and ensure that all current accessibility and
opportunity requirements are taken into account and maintained. I
fundamentally believe that rather than the railway being stuck in
the past, it needs to adapt and change in the manner that its
passengers are. If one in 10 passengers are operating the booking
office purchase system, that means that 90% of passengers are not
seeing a member of staff. That member of staff can look after
them, give them information, make them feel more reassured and
assist them on to the train. That is a modern railway in
action.
Transport Infrastructure: Decarbonisation
(Loughborough) (Con)
8. What steps he is taking to decarbonise transport
infrastructure. (905932)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
All transport infrastructure projects delivered by the
Department’s arm’s length bodies are required to undertake
whole-life carbon assessments and set carbon reduction targets as
part of their business cases. National Highways, HS2 Ltd and
Network Rail have already set out ambitious plans for achieving
net zero and we are supporting them in their delivery. Through
the Live Labs 2 competition, we awarded £30 million of funding to
seven new regional projects to boost innovation in decarbonising
highways infrastructure.
I recently visited Polypipe in my constituency, which designs,
develops and manufactures thermoplastic piping systems from
recycled material for civil and infrastructure projects. I
understand that the Government and National Highways tend to
favour the use of concrete to make ducting for cables over
plastic for the road network, despite it being weaker, less
resilient and worse for the environment. Could more consideration
be given to using recycled materials, such as the plastic
manufactured by Polypipe, in the construction of road
infrastructure projects to help to achieve our net zero
goals?
I thank my hon. Friend for that question, and it is very
interesting to hear about the work of Polypipe. She will be aware
that those decisions are for National Highways as an arm’s length
body, but she has put that point on the record in Hansard, andI
would be very happy to put the question to National Highways so
that it is specifically considered in detail.
(North West Leicestershire)
(Reclaim)
Does the Minister have an estimate for the cost of decarbonising
our transport system, especially when we factor in the
improvements to the national grid for the extra electricity
supply? Will he also look again at reversing the deeply unpopular
policy of banning internal combustion engine vehicles from being
sold after 2030?
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that a very wide range of
information about potential costs and budgets is already in the
public domain from the Department across a very wide range of
modes. On electric vehicles, we have just consulted on
regulations on the zero-emission vehicle mandate, and £6 billion
of new private investment is being scheduled on the basis of
those projections. That will transform our charging
infrastructure, and we should all welcome it.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Wythenshawe and Sale East)
(Lab)
The climate breakdown data coming in from around the planet at
the moment is truly terrifying, so decarbonising transport is
vital if we are to meet our climate change commitments. Will the
Minister pledge to continue the work laid out just four years ago
in the Maritime 2050 strategy, as recommended by the Transport
Committee?
The hon. Gentleman may know that we have just had a very
interesting and successful potential negotiation at the
International Maritime Organisation. We take this issue extremely
seriously, both as regards the decarbonisation of ports and the
creation of green routes and other forms of maritime
decarbonisation. We absolutely are working on this agenda,
recognising that it is one of the most difficult areas of all to
decarbonise over time.
Black Cat Roundabout on A1
(North East Bedfordshire)
(Con)
11. What progress his Department has made on delivering
improvements to the Black Cat roundabout on the A1 in
Bedfordshire. (905936)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ( )
Following the dismissal of the recent judicial review, the A428
Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet scheme is due to begin construction
later this year, with the open-for-traffic date planned for
2027.
I thank the Minister for that update. As he will know, with the
closure today of the consultation on suggestions for the next
phase of road infrastructure—RIS3, or the third road investment
strategy—it makes a lot of sense for the Department to continue
the momentum by now looking at alternatives to the three
remaining roundabouts on the A1 in my constituency: Sandy,
Biggleswade North and Biggleswade South.
Mr Holden
I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and it was a delight to
visit some of his constituents not that long ago in Sandy to
discuss this and Biggleswade roundabout on a route I use
regularly. We will continue to keep all these schemes for the
long-term improvement of our strategic road network under review.
They are very important, particularly when it comes to road
safety, and I look forward to having further discussions with him
in future.
HS2 Planning Assumptions: Rail Travel Patterns
(Warley) (Lab)
12. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of
changed patterns of rail travel on the planning assumptions for
HS2. (905937)
The Secretary of State for Transport ( )
Before I answer the right hon. Gentleman’s question, I hope you
will give me permission, Mr Speaker, to inform the House, if it
has not already noticed, that HS2 Ltd announced yesterday that
Mark Thurston, its chief executive officer, will stand down in
September. I want to thank him on the record, in the House, for
his work over the last six years on progressing Britain’s most
transformative rail project. He successfully oversaw the start of
construction, and he ensured that HS2 has created tens of
thousands of skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the country.
The Government and I are grateful for his exemplary service.
To answer the right hon. Gentleman’s question, HS2 is a railway
for the country’s long-term prosperity, and it is already
bringing significant economic benefits to his constituents in the
west midlands, where businesses have already won £1.7
billion-worth of work delivering HS2.
I thank the Secretary of State for that waffle. I actually asked
him about the basic planning assumptions for this project,
because the ongoing case for HS2 would have had to be based on
estimates of future passenger numbers, particularly for business
travel and inter-city commuting. Following the pandemic, we all
know there has been a major change because of video conferencing
and working from home. What are his Department’s latest
projections of inter-city passenger numbers, and how do they
affect the viability of the HS2 project, quite apart from the
escalating construction costs? Will he publish those figures?
Mr Harper
I think the right hon. Gentleman fundamentally misunderstands.
First, HS2 is a railway for the coming decades, not for the next
few years. What happened during the pandemic should not affect
the case for HS2. Also, he assumes that business travellers are
the only people who will use HS2. It is true that business and
commuter traffic is down following the pandemic, but we have seen
leisure services rebound very strongly, with passenger numbers
higher than they were pre-pandemic.
When I was in Japan recently, I saw that high-speed trains are
not only used by business users; they are used by everyone who
uses the railway. HS2 will free up enormous capacity for the
right hon. Gentleman’s constituents on the west coast main line,
and it will get more freight off the roads and on to our rail
network. He should welcome all those things.
Rail Services
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(LD)
14. What steps he is taking to improve rail services.
(905939)
The Secretary of State for Transport ( )
Earlier this year, I set out my vision to modernise the railway
industry as part of my Bradshaw address. This includes ambitions
for a customer-focused, commercially led rail industry and the
creation of Great British Railways as its new guiding mind. We
continue to invest record sums in improving infrastructure and,
just last week, I was pleased to officially open the latest phase
of the south-west rail resilience programme at Dawlish, part of a
£165 million investment to date, which I know the hon. Gentleman
is about to welcome.
The Secretary of State is right that I welcome the programme.
This week, the charity Devon in Sight sent an email to its
supporters, including me, titled, “Proposed closures to Railway
Ticket Offices.” The email about the consultation was short:
“Please find attached a letter from us detailing how you can make
an objection.”
Why does the Secretary of State suppose that a Devon charity that
looks out for blind people should presume that its supporters
would want to object?
Mr Harper
I am not entirely certain exactly what the hon. Gentleman is
asking. The rail Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill
and Battle (), set out the purpose of the rail companies’
proposals very well. The rail companies are consulting on the
proposals, the purpose of which is to recognise the changed
reality that most passengers purchase their tickets either online
or from a ticket machine, and most of them do not go near a
ticket office. It is about getting the staff out of offices and
into the station, so they can support all passengers, including
those who are older or disabled and who need assistance, rather
than having them stuck in a ticket office. That is the point of
the proposals, and there will be a detailed consultation. I am
sure the hon. Gentleman will respond to the consultation, which
the rail companies can take into account as they pursue their
proposals.
Under-10 Metre Fleet: Exemptions
(North East Fife)
(LD)
15. Whether he plans to exempt fishermen on vessels below 10
metres from medical certificate requirements. (905940)
The Secretary of State for Transport ( )
The requirement for people working at sea to have a medical
fitness certificate applies to vessels of every size, in every
other commercial sector. However, Ministers are listening
carefully to the views of colleagues across the House on the best
way to progress this issue and I look forward to the hon. Lady’s
follow-up question.
There is real anxiety up and down the country among fishermen as
a result of the Government’s policy, which is seen to be
expensive and onerous. My constituent Bob is one of those
fishermen who has worked on fishing vessels his whole life. I am
pleased to hear that the Secretary of State is listening
carefully. I hope he will meet fishing representatives to hear
their concerns.
Mr Harper
Either I or the maritime Minister will be pleased to do that. I
hope I can reassure the hon. Member’s constituent that, of the 99
cases that have been through the MCA’s medical assessors, no
fisherman has been failed, except one who did not provide the
evidence required. She will also know that there are grandfather
provisions for those fisherman already in the industry if they
obtain their medical certificate before 30 November, and I urge
them to do so. If she writes to either me or the maritime
Minister, I will make sure that one of us meets her and her
constituents.
Railway Infrastructure
(Sedgefield) (Con)
16. What steps he is taking to improve railway infrastructure.
(905941)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
We continue to invest in upgrading the railways across England
and Wales, with a budget of about £2 billion a year, including
opening five new stations and two new lines in the past three
years. In the north-east, the Government are investing in
Darlington station, the Northumberland line and the east coast
main line upgrade.
I thank the Minister for his answer, but the most critical rail
infrastructure needed in the north-east by far is the Leamside
line project, starting with Ferryhill station. Its importance
cannot be overstated; it is about resilience, capacity and
levelling up. Can he tell us when we will get spades in the
ground to show our commitment to constituents in Ferryhill and
let them see the economic benefit that these stations will
bring?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who is a champion of rail in the
north-east. I thank him for his long-standing support for this
scheme and for sponsoring the bid for restoring your railway
ideas funding to reopen a station at Ferryhill. The updated
strategic outline business case for the Ferryhill-Middlesbrough
proposal is with the Department and we will be looking at it
shortly.
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
Railway ticket offices are essential railway infrastructure. The
Minister has said that his hope is that staff will be redeployed
on to the concourse, so can he comment on the fact that the
planning assumption for Great Western Railway, once it closes the
ticket office in Plymouth, is that it will cut the number of
roles at Plymouth station by 42%, as part of a 40% cut in the
workforce across the network in the south-west? Is that his
actual plan? Can he also publish the letter of instruction sent
by his Department to train operating companies requiring them to
start the consultation on ticket office closures?
I certainly intend to be as transparent as you would expect in
this regard, Mr Speaker, so I will look into the hon. Member’s
request. I re-emphasise that this is a consultation by the train
operators. His own train operator will no doubt take his comments
about the station in his constituency on board. That will then be
assessed by the passenger body and, if matters need to be worked
upon, I would expect those two bodies to do that. If that cannot
occur, it moves to an ultimate determination in the Department
for Transport.
Topical Questions
(Bosworth) (Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(905964)
The Secretary of State for Transport ( )
Tomorrow marks two years since the Government published their
decarbonisation plan, our road map to clean travel. In that time,
we have come a long way. We have agreed international targets for
aviation decarbonisation, allowing aviation to grow without
harming the climate. As the Minister of State, Department for
Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hereford and South
Herefordshire (), said, just last week at the
International Maritime Organisation, we worked with our partners
to secure the agreement of 174 other member states for net zero
shipping by 2050. Our zero emission vehicle mandate will see this
country continue to lead the world’s major economies in
decarbonising road transport, opening the door to not only
significant reductions in carbon emissions, but investment and
manufacturing opportunities to turbocharge British business. On
every mode of transport, we are working to cut our carbon
emissions, grow the economy and business, and give people across
the country the freedom to travel when they need to, in the way
that suits them best, without having to worry about the
environmental impact of doing so.
Dr Evans
I praise the roads Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for North
West Durham (Mr Holden), for taking an active interest in the A5.
I have met with him multiple times, including last week, when we
were dealing with the A5 yet again. I understand why the RIS3
programme has been pushed back. However, the A5 acts as a
construction for prosperity, growth and housing in our area. Four
points on the A5 were pinpointed as being narrow. Can he let me
know where they were, as National Highways said it would do that?
Can he give an indication of how I can move National Highways
forward to try to release the strangulation on our area?
Mr Harper
I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s question and for his kind
comments about my hon. Friend the roads Minister. Between the M42
and M6, the A5 is a key artery for business and motorists and, as
he says, it is integral to local growth plans. National Highways
continues to develop options to upgrade the route, as part of the
pipeline of its potential future schemes, including considering
measures that address stretches of the route where safety issues
are of greatest concern, such as the pinch points that he talks
about. Outputs from that work will feed into priorities for
future investment strategies.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State for Transport.
(Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)
Does the Secretary of State think it is acceptable that the
villages of Little Ouseburn and Beal, in the Selby and Ainsty
constituency, have no bus service either in the evenings or on
Sundays? Who does he hold responsible for that? Is it the Tory
Government, which completely snubbed Selby and Ainsty in their
bus strategy, the Tory council, which cut 1 million km of
subsidised bus routes, or the previous Tory MP, who mentioned
buses just three times in over 13 years? Does he not agree that
it is time for Selby and Ainsty to have a fresh start, with Keir
Mather?
Mr Harper
It will not surprise you, Mr Speaker, that I do not think that at
all. North Yorkshire Council, the local transport authority for
Selby, was allocated £1.4 million as part of the bus service
improvement plan plus funding. That means it has the resources to
deliver the ambitions plans that it needs to carry out. On her
second point, I think , who is deeply rooted in
Yorkshire and has lived there for her entire life, is the best
candidate. I was there last week, delivering leaflets for her,
and I will be there later today. She will make a fantastic Member
of Parliament and I look forward to welcoming her to the
House.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr Speaker
Order. I gently say to the Secretary of State, which Back Bencher
does he not want me to take? He can point them out and it will
make my job much easier, if we are going to take so long.
(Christchurch) (Con)
When the Secretary of State made his remarks earlier about the
sudden resignation of the chief executive of HS2 from his
£660,000 a year job, did he take into account the fact that the
project is delayed by at least five years and that the costs have
quadrupled? Will he also take into account the fact that the cost
plus basis of contracts is now one of the main reasons for the
increased costs?
Mr Speaker
Order. It is topicals. You know better than anyone, Sir
Christopher, as an experienced gentleman.
Mr Harper
It is not a sudden leaving of his job—the chief executive has
announced that he is going to go in September. We have a clear
plan in place: the experienced chair of HS2 will step up to be
executive chairman for the period while we are searching for a
successor, so the leadership of the organisation will be in hand.
As I said, Mark Thurston has done a very good job in getting the
organisation into delivery of phase 1, and he himself has said he
wants to hand over at this point to enable continuity as the
project moves into the next phase of delivery.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
Scots are used to getting a poor and unreliable cross-border rail
service, but recently the cross-border air service provided by
British Airways, particularly from Glasgow, has been awful. That
said, we need to get on with decarbonising aviation, so when will
we see the airspace modernisation process simplified and
accelerated, not decelerated? When will the Government bring
forward price stability plans for sustainable aviation fuels,
which everyone bar the Treasury knows has to happen?
Mr Harper
On the hon. Member’s first point, the work on airspace
modernisation is under way, as he knows. On his second point,
this Government are leading the progress on sustainable aviation
fuels worldwide. We published the new report, which set out some
clear plans, and we published our response to it. We are taking
that forward and we are at the leading edge of this work
globally, setting the agenda, as I hope he would welcome.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Transport Committee.
(Milton Keynes South)
(Con)
As we approach the end of the school year, many families will be
looking forward to setting off on their summer holidays, but
there are concerns that industrial action in Europe will lead to
flight cancellations and delays. People will also be mindful of
the disruption at our ports and airports in recent times. What
assurance can the Secretary of State give me and those families
that the system will be resilient to ensure that they can get
away?
Mr Harper
I am sure that my hon. Friend’s question was prompted by one
airline making some modest changes to its flight schedule during
the summer. No other airline has indicated to the Department that
it will be cancelling flights ahead of the summer. We will
continue to engage with airlines on that matter. The Aviation
Minister is meeting with the chief executive officer of EasyJet
later today to discuss its announcement. My team is meeting with
the CEO of National Air Traffic Services to get an update on its
operational readiness. We have already worked with the aviation
industry to make sure that, this year, it is prepared for the
busy summer period so that we avoid the problems that we had last
year. We have received appropriate assurances, but I hope that we
can reassure those whom my hon. Friend referred to in his
question.
Mr Speaker
I call .
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
T2. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I promise that I will not
ask for multiple answers—(905965)
Mr Speaker
Order. Can Members please observe the proceedings? It is
important.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I promise that I will only ask for one
answer this time.
Without a price stability mechanism for sustainable aviation
fuel, which will be crucial in bringing down our carbon
footprint, the UK risks falling behind the SAF mandate by 2030. A
homegrown sustainable aviation fuel industry could contribute £2
billion a year to this economy. In order for that to happen—
Mr Speaker
Order. Make a guess at that, Minister. I am not going through
another five minutes.
Mr Harper
All right. I think I know what the hon. Lady was driving at on
that question. We said in response to the new report that we
would continue to talk to the industry and, if required, consult
on a mechanism—an industry-funded mechanism. That work is under
way, but we continue to have the ambition to get those SAF plants
developed in this country and I am glad that she supports that
work.
Sir (North East Somerset)
(Con)
What can the Government do about the Driver and Vehicle Licensing
Agency and the police chasing drivers who have correctly sent in
their forms after they have disposed of a vehicle and who then
get notices of intended prosecution for a vehicle that they no
longer own when they have done the right thing? It seems to turn
on its head the principle of innocence.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ( )
I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. When a person
disposing of their vehicle notifies the DVLA that they no longer
have the vehicle, they are removed from the record and the DVLA
writes to them. If the customer continues to receive
correspondence relating to motor vehicle offences, they should
contact the DVLA as soon as possible confirming that they are no
longer the keeper of the vehicle in question. If he has any
constituents with any particular issues, I would be delighted to
take them up and look at them as soon as possible.
(Warley) (Lab)
T3. Can I go back to the astonishingly feeble answer from the
Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Hereford and South
Herefordshire (), about Heathrow, which is a
major international hub, a major export centre, the biggest
single site employer, with, I am pleased to say, a well-organised
union workforce, and vital for west London? How can the
Government not have a view or a policy on this vital national
infrastructure, or is it just another case of they haven’t got a
clue?(905966)
Mr Harper
I know that the right hon. Gentleman likes to hear from me, so I
will answer this question. He can then think of a way of
insulting whatever I say in response. The point that my right
hon. Friend was making is that any proposal for a third runway at
Heathrow will be a private sector proposal from that airport and,
as last time, we would expect it to be funded by the airport. He
knows that, if it brings forward such a proposal, the Government
would have to take a quasi-judicial planning decision, which is
why it is important that I do not take a pre-judged position so I
can take that quasi-judicial decision appropriately. At the
moment, however, we have not seen such a proposal from Heathrow.
If it has one in due course, we will respond accordingly.
(Stoke-on-Trent North)
(Con)
Despite billions being invested in buses across the country and
£31.7 million going specifically into Stoke-on-Trent, First Bus
continues to cut routes, harming 21-year-old carers such as
Charlie Preston in Chell who may now have to quit her job. This
Government have done their bit—is it not time that First Bus does
its bit?
Mr Holden
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. I was delighted to visit
Stoke with him and my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent
South () to see what is going on. I
urge the council to use that flexibility to work with First Bus
to deliver a solution for all his constituents. We have put that
flexibility in there and I hope that it uses it to protect his
constituents.
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
T4. The Government’s response to the Transport Committee’s report
on the integrated rail plan was published at midnight, and the
terms of reference for the study on the high-speed rail link to
Leeds are expected imminently. Will the rail Minister tell us
what this will mean for the railways in Yorkshire?(905967)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
I thank the hon. Member for all his work in this regard, and he
is absolutely right. With regard to Bradford, the Transport
Committee’s report made a recommendation that better station
options should be considered under the integrated rail plan. That
work with Bradford will now commence to try to find a better
station option and to improve transport links for the city. With
regard to Leeds, the station capacity can be looked at and
potentially unlocked, and the HS2 route options all the way up
from Sheffield to Leeds will also be part of that study.
(Keighley) (Con)
After much lobbying, I too am very pleased to hear that the
Government have announced that the integrated rail plan will be
reviewed and a new station could be considered in Bradford. Will
the Minister meet me to discuss this important issue, and will he
prioritise the project so that we can move at speed, because it
will bring better connectivity and economic prosperity to not
only Bradford but Keighley?
I certainly will meet my hon. Friend. I thank him for his
involvement in the project for the last couple of years and for
making the case for Bradford. Bradford is our youngest city in
terms of population age and our fifth largest in terms of
regional authority area. We firmly believe that levelling up
means delivering for Bradford, so I am happy to meet him and I am
delighted that this Government are willing to look at and give
that partnership working to Bradford.
(Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab)
T5. Now that social distancing is over, will the Secretary of
State look into restarting the pilot of demand responsive buses
that Ealing and one other London borough—a Conservative-run
borough—were undertaking before covid pulled the plug on them, as
his predecessor, the right hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield
(), said he would do before
being shuffled off?(905968)
Mr Holden
I would be delighted to discuss these matters with TfL at our
regular meetings. All the decisions in this space are devolved to
Transport for London as part of a £6 billion package, and I would
be delighted to discuss the matter with the Mayor or the
commissioner for transport at my next meeting with them.
(Blackpool South) (Ind)
A passing loop on the South Fylde rail line would double the
number of trains coming into my constituency every hour,
facilitating the millions of people who come to Blackpool every
year. Following the award of feasibility moneys to look at the
project, will the Minister meet me to appraise the options?
I would be delighted to meet the hon. Member. He is right that
the Government have committed half a billion pounds to deliver
more railways under the restoring your railway projects. The
strategic outline business case on the project that he has worked
so hard for is with the Department, and I am happy to meet him to
discuss it.
(Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
(SNP)
T6. There has been remarkably little progress in rolling out
streetside chargers for electric vehicles outside buildings with
multiple residents. What action are the Government taking to
promote this scheme and to ensure we have the correct regulatory
framework in place?(905969)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The hon. Gentleman will be aware of our ORCS—on-street
residential chargepoint scheme—fund to support on-street
charging. We also have the new LEVI—local electric vehicle
infrastructure—fund, and have given money to local authorities to
support capability building in the area. If there is a specific
concern that animates him in relation to his constituency, he is
welcome to write to me.
(Buckingham) (Con)
Yesterday, I chaired a roundtable with the freight sector,
looking at the growing problem of theft from lorries in overnight
lorry parks and service stations, which is costing the economy
hundreds of millions of pounds a year. What is my hon. Friend
doing with the sector to ensure that for the extortionate fees
freight companies are charged, they get secure parking
overnight?
Mr Holden
I thank my hon. Friend for his work in this area and across a
number of areas in transport. We are looking in depth at driver
welfare, including providing extra lorry parks and more secure
facilities, and grants are due to be announced in the summer.
Grahame Morris (Easington) (Lab)
T7. Can I ask the roads Minister about the lower Thames crossing
project? In particular, what steps is the DFT taking to ensure
that companies such as Murphy Group respect basic workers’ rights
to join a trade union when bidding for major transport
contracts?(905970)
Mr Holden
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, my right hon.
Friend the Member for Hereford and South Herefordshire (), who is the Minister for the
future of transport, met Murphy Group this week. The Government
remain committed to the lower Thames crossing as part of the
responsible decisions taken to help meet inflationary pressures
and balance the nation’s books. We will be rephasing construction
on the LTC by two years, as this will allow more time to take
into account stakeholder views and to ensure that there remains
an effective and deliverable plan that is in the best interests
of taxpayers.
(Kettering) (Con)
The roads Minister will know that the proposed £40-million
junction 10A on the A14 at Kettering is crucial for the future
prosperity of the town. Can he assure me that National Highways
is working expeditiously with the Hanwood Park developer and
North Northamptonshire Council to ensure that the project is
delivered as soon as possible after 2025?
Mr Holden
I can provide my hon. Friend with that assurance. Having visited
his constituency and met him near the project, I know how
important it is to him. National Highways is working to do
everything possible to see the project come to delivery.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
T8. The buses Minister assured me a couple of months ago that he
was prepared to work with the West of England Combined Authority
to ensure “maximum flexibility” in how bus funding could be
spent, but I am still struggling to find out how we can get the
funding to reinstate commercially non-profitable but essential
buses. Will he meet me so that we can try to get to the bottom of
it?(905971)
Mr Holden
I would be delighted to meet the hon. Lady. I met recently with
the West of England metro Mayor, who has had £21 million in BSIP
funding, which we have made more flexible. To date, he has looked
at schemes including the birthday month travel scheme. I can see
that she might not be as interested in that as some of her hon.
Friends, but I would be delighted to meet her to discuss what
more flexibility we could introduce to preserve buses in her
constituency.
(Ruislip, Northwood and
Pinner) (Con)
Following his recent meeting with Transport for London about its
finances, can my hon. Friend update me on what financial
modelling it has done on the impact of extending the ultra low
emission zone and what account it has taken of the impact should
that not go ahead?
Mr Holden
I met the acting chief financial officer and Seb Dance, the
deputy Mayor for transport, yesterday. They informed me that the
Mayor of London, in anticipation of falling revenues from ULEZ in
the next few years, had asked them to investigate the
technicalities of introducing road charging across London in the
future.
(North Shropshire) (LD)
Last year, Shropshire missed out on bus back better funding,
despite having some of the worst services in the country. That
funding was hugely scaled back on a national level. Will the
Minister commit to reinstating some kind of funding to give rural
places the bus services they need?
Mr Holden
I have been looking into all bus funding across the country. The
hon. Lady will know that Shropshire Council has had around £1.5
million of BSIP plus funding. On cross-border services, I have
been working closely with my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd
South (), who is doing a huge amount
of work in this area, particularly between Shropshire and Wales.
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