Bus Services: England
(Bristol East) (Lab)
1. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of bus
service levels in England.(902089)
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(LD)
8. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of local
bus services.(902098)
(Leeds North East)
(Lab)
9. What steps he is taking to improve bus services in
Leeds.(902100)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government continue to provide unprecedented investment into
buses. Since the pandemic, we have announced more than £4.5
billion of support for bus services in England outside London,
including £1 billion recently reallocated from HS2 to improve
services in the north and the midlands through Network North. Bus
passenger journeys in England increased by 19% to 3.4 billion in
the year ending March 2023, and we are seeing patronage increase
in some areas.
It has been three years since the Government published their
national bus strategy, but we are still waiting for the promised
guidance on what constitutes “socially and economically
necessary” bus services for which local authorities can provide
subsidies. While we wait, people in Stapleton, in my
constituency, are having to walk a mile to get to a bus stop to
catch a bus to the city centre, because First Bus says it is not
commercially profitable to run a service through Stapleton and
there is no money to subsidise it. Last July, a Minister told me
that guidance would be issued in this Parliament, which is
clearly close to coming to an end. When will we see that
guidance?
We particularly want to try to assist the hon. Lady and her local
authority with the finances. The West of England combined
authority receives £1.1 million every year through the bus
service operators grant to subsidise socially necessary bus
services. It has also been allocated in excess of £1.2 billion in
city region sustainable transport settlements 1 and 2 to deliver
transport infrastructure, which includes the bus infrastructure
the hon. Lady requires.
As a regular bus user myself, I recognise it when people in rural
Devon tell me that some buses fail to appear, meaning they miss
connections with trains as a result. The services are well used
by college students. Unreliable bus services not only affect the
productivity of the college students, but of their parents who
are then called upon to help the students make the journey to
college, curtailing their working day. What can the Government do
to encourage better co-ordination between rail and buses to get
students to college on time?
That depends on funding, as the hon. Gentleman will be aware
because I raised it with him in his Adjournment debate on 19
December. Devon County Council has been awarded £17.4 million to
deliver its bus service improvement plan, but there should be
better integration between the providers, the local authority and
the rail companies.
Our bus services in Leeds have been unreliable for years, and yet
the Leeds City Council Conservative group wanted more of the same
and hoped the problem would just go away. Will the Minister join
me in congratulating Labour’s West Yorkshire Mayor, , on taking the significant
decision to bring our buses back into public control, so they can
once again be run for people and not for profit?
I had the dubious honour of being praised as the hon. Gentleman’s
favourite MP earlier this week—damned by faint praise. I would
gently push back that the West Yorkshire Mayor is able to do that
only because this Government have provided unprecedented funding
of in excess of £2.1 billion in the devolved settlement under the
city region sustainable transport settlement.
(Southend West) (Con)
Southend welcomes the £1 million of bus service improvement plan
funding that has already enabled Conservative cabinet member
Kevin Buck to reinstate the much-loved 25A route, but we need
more. Will the Minister commit to come to my high-level bus
summit on Monday, to listen to residents and see what more we can
do?
In the time-honoured tradition, I can only say yes to my hon.
Friend. She is a doughty champion for Southend. I would be
delighted to attend her bus summit, to speak to the relevant
councillors and to explain how the bus service improvement plan
and the bus service operators’ grant funding is transforming
local bus provision.
(Stroud) (Con)
Never mess with busy mums and dads, not least because I am one
and I know that the Minister is as well. Parents in Arlingham,
Frampton, Elmore and Longney are really struggling with rural
school bus transport. This is not all about money; it is about
reliability, safety and fairness. Indeed, they feel that their
children are discriminated against versus what children in towns
and cities receive. Gloucestershire County Council is doing a
lot. It is stretching itself, but we are really struggling to
find solutions. Will the Minister meet me and Councillor Stephen
Davies to see whether we can find solutions for our parents in
the communities?
I would be delighted to do so. I welcome the fact that my hon.
Friend is standing up for her local community in this way.
Clearly, it is a question of integrating the particular services,
whether they are local or school provision, but it is definitely
something that we can sort.
(Sedgefield) (Con)
It was good to meet my hon. Friend the Minister and the residents
of Fishburn in the Sedgefield constituency recently; and he then
followed up with Arriva. Will he endorse my campaign to reconnect
Fishburn, Trimdon and Sedgefield back with Newton Aycliffe and
Darlington, which were cut off by the removal of the X21? Does he
also agree that rural services to places such as these are the
critical platform to enable opportunity to be spread and a key
reason for the BSIP funding?
It was a pleasure to attend the meeting at Fishburn Community
Hall, meet the local residents and councillors, be offered a
pancake on Shrove Tuesday and discuss bus services and bus
funding. I have to say that there is no doubt whatever that the
improvement of the X21, in particular taking residents and
workers into Newton Aycliffe and Darlington, seems to be utterly
sensible, and I will continue to support my hon. Friend’s
campaign and meet again with Arriva to ensure that it happens for
the people of Fishburn and Trimdon.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Wakefield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Good morning, Mr Speaker. Passenger watchdog Transport Focus
published a report last week, which found huge regional variation
in bus passenger satisfaction across the country, with large
numbers of passengers “being let down”. Under the Tories’
deregulation of the bus sector, passenger satisfaction with some
of our operators is miles below the average of 80%, with some as
low as a dismal 66%. In places such as West Yorkshire, Labour
Mayors are not standing for it any longer. As my hon. Friend the
Member for Leeds North East () said, has announced her intention
to pursue franchising to reverse decades of Tory decline. But the
vast majority of local authorities do not have those powers, so
will the Minister adopt Labour’s plan to give every local
transport authority the same powers to take back control of their
bus services?
Unlike the hon. Gentleman, I was at the launch of the said report
and have read it. He will be aware that, for example, one reason
for the complications is that the number of people working from
home has increased by 40%. We have a plan to tackle that with the
record investment that is being made to Mayors. He talks about
franchising, but it is also the case, without a shadow of a
doubt, that he does not have a plan to finance it, particularly
for rural local authorities. What is the case is that, when
Labour organisations are challenged on this, they struggle to
find out how they will deal with the funding. The truth is that
there is no plan and they are not putting forward any funding.
Individual people who attended that event were genuinely in shock
at the shadow Secretary of State’s suggestion that Labour was
going to do this, but was unsure about how it would fund it.
Seafarer Welfare: P&O Ferries
(Warrington North)
(Lab)
2. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of seafarer
welfare standards on P&O Ferries’ fleet.(902090)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
I wish to make it clear that the dismissal two years ago by
P&O Ferries of nearly 800 seafarers without notice and
without consultation was completely unacceptable, which is why
this Government introduced a comprehensive package of measures to
improve the welfare of seafarers and to stop the abuse.
On the specifics of the question, the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency periodically inspects vessels that enter UK ports to
assess their compliance with international standards, including
those in the Maritime Labour Convention. We expect all operators
to meet if not exceed those standards, and the UK continues to
play a leading role internationally in driving up working
conditions across the maritime sector. We are pleased that, just
this weekend, P&O Ferries has committed to signing the
Seafarers’ Charter along with four other operators. We will work
with P&O Ferries to support it in its application for
chartered status and assess its welfare standards against the
charter’s requirements.
Two years on from P&O Ferries’ shocking attack on seafarer
jobs, trade union rights and employment law, the legal loophole
that it used to escape criminal sanctions has still not been
closed. The P&O seafarers were UK-based workers, but because
P&O Ferries had flagged its ships out to Cyprus, Bermuda and
the Bahamas, P&O and, crucially, the Government knew that
criminal sanctions, including fines for the offences that it
committed, would not apply. Why have the Government not closed
that loophole?
As I said, the Government have introduced a comprehensive package
of measures to stop the abuse of seafarers. In particular, we
have introduced the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023, which will come
into force this summer and ensure the minimum wage for seafarers
in the UK. We have the minimum wage corridor that is opening up
this summer with France, ensuring the minimum wage across the
channel, and we have the seafarers’ charter, which raises
standards far higher. As I said, P&O and four other operators
have applied to join it.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)
Last Sunday marked the two-year anniversary of P&O Ferries
illegally sacking 786 workers, but two years on nothing has
changed. This week an investigation by ITV and The Guardian
revealed that P&O Ferries is not only paying many of its
workers less than half the minimum wage but forcing staff to work
12-hour shifts seven days a week for up to 17 weeks at a time.
France’s maritime Minister has called that “dangerous” and “not
moral”, and has changed the law to stop it happening. The
Seafarers’ Wages Act will not curb that treatment, nor will the
Government’s voluntary charter, so when will the Government act
to prevent those exploitative practices from happening in our
waters?
The Government agree that seafarers should obviously not be
working so hard that they are fatigued, that it is dangerous, and
that operators have a duty to ensure that that is not the case.
The Seafarers’ Wages Act is obviously primarily focused on wages,
and will ensure that seafarers get paid the minimum wage within
UK waters. One provision of the seafarers’ charter will ensure
that the operators have rosters so that seafarers are not
fatigued and overworked. The Department will monitor compliance
and work with the operators to ensure that seafarers are not
fatigued.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
Further to the points made by the Labour Front Bencher, it is
just over two years since nearly 800 P&O workers were
summarily sacked and thrown off ferries. We will finally debate
the Government’s utterly supine and ineffective fire-and-rehire
code of practice next week, but it is just over two months since
the Government claimed that they were making substantial progress
on implementing the nine-point plan for seafarer protections. The
Seafarers’ Wages Act still has not come into force, alongside a
toothless and voluntary seafarers’ charter, which will not change
how P&O operates, even if it signs up to it. We all know that
in this House, so is it not time that the Government took
meaningful action and got behind our seafarers?
The Seafarers’ Wages Act will come into force this summer.
Unfortunately, it takes time to pass legislation, and we had to
consult on it. No one wants it to come into force quicker than I.
The claim that the seafarers’ charter will have no impact is
completely untrue. The operators will have to abide by the terms
of the charter, which will ensure that seafarers earn the minimum
wage throughout their engagements, that they get overtime
payments of at least 1.25 times the hourly rate, and that they
have rosters that ensure that they are not fatigued and safety is
not compromised. The Government will monitor the compliance of
the operators with that charter.
Local Transport: West Midlands
(Lichfield) (Con)
3. What steps he is taking to help local authorities improve
local transport in the west midlands. (902091)
The Secretary of State for Transport ( )
In total, local transport authorities across the west midlands
have been allocated around £5 billion to improve local transport
services and infrastructure through the city region sustainable
transport settlement, bus service improvement plan funding, and
our recently announced local transport fund. One thing that would
of course hugely help local transport in the west midlands is for
voters in the combined authority to re-elect our fantastic Mayor,
.
Hear, hear! The extension of the Birmingham to Lichfield line
goes all the way to Burton and passes the National Memorial
Arboretum. At the moment, the line is used only for freight, and
I was told four years ago that the cost of upgrading it for
passenger traffic would be only about £10 million, which is
nothing in the great scheme of things. When will we see the line
being completed so that people can go to the National Memorial
Arboretum, which has half a million visitors a year, by rail
instead of always having to use road?
Mr Harper
I know that my hon. Friend is a long-standing champion of that
scheme and takes every opportunity to raise it with us. It is for
local authorities to promote schemes for transport in their
areas. I am pleased to tell him that, following our decision to
cancel the second phase of High Speed 2, we have been able to
make significant funds available, so Staffordshire County
Council—his local authority—will get just under £260 million from
the local transport fund. I urge him to talk to the council to
see if it can fund the very modest bid that he has just set out
for that scheme.
(Warwick and Leamington)
(Lab)
The tram system in the west midlands is not going according to
plan unfortunately, and the rail line between Moor Street,
Snowhill and Marylebone—the Chiltern line, as it is known—is
underperforming and has become highly unreliable. The air quality
in our area, including in Warwick and Leamington, Snowhill and
elsewhere, is very poor because the service is diesel-run. Other
countries, such as India, have electrified their main networks.
Will the Minister electrify the Chiltern route using the budget
freed up from HS2?
Mr Harper
There are significant plans to electrify across the network.
Another thing we can do to spend money more cost-effectively is
consider where battery trains can be used in order not to
electrify the very expensive parts of the network. I am also
aware that Chiltern is looking at modernising its rolling stock,
particularly to improve air quality. All the things that the hon.
Gentleman raises are absolutely in progress. The Rail Minister
will be able to say more about them in due course.
New Direct Ferry Links to Mainland Europe
(Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
(Alba)
4. If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of
creating new direct ferry links to mainland Europe.(902093)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The UK ferry sector is a highly competitive commercial market.
There are currently a significant number of links to Europe
offering a variety of freight and passenger routes from many
locations, including five new routes since 2021. Ferry routes are
developed on a commercial basis by private sector operators to
provide services that meet wider passenger or freight demands. As
such, the Department does not currently intend to undertake any
such assessment.
The reinstatement of a direct ferry link from the Forth estuary
into Europe addresses three key objectives: an environmental
objective of reducing road congestion and carbon emissions from
heavy goods vehicles; improving import-export resilience; and
delivering economic opportunity to Scotland. Industry agrees and
ferry operators stand ready to deliver a route, but the Scottish
Government lack the courage to support Project Brave. What can be
done to encourage the Scottish Government to invest a modest
amount of pump-prime funding to realise the economic and
environmental benefits that would be felt by all across the
UK?
As I said in my initial answer, the UK Government see the ferry
sector as a commercial market and do not subsidise it. As the
hon. Gentleman points out, however, this is a devolved matter—in
Scotland, ferries are the responsibility of the Scottish
Government—so he should make his protestations about that route
to the SNP Government, because it is up to them to decide what to
do. I totally understand that they are slightly worried; they
have an undistinguished track record on ferries, with various
fiascos—maybe it is because they try to get ferries that can hold
motorhomes.
Rail Reform Delays: Cost
(Brighton, Kemptown)
(Lab/Co-op)
5. What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of
delays to planned rail reforms.(902095)
(Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab)
15. What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of
delays to planned rail reforms.(902110)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The recent National Audit Office report was clear that we expect
to spend £400 million on rail reform up to the end of March 2024,
compared with initial plans to spend £1.2 billion. The report was
also clear that we are forecasting £2 billion of total savings
over the current spending review period, which is 77% of our
original savings target.
It has been three years since we were told that Great British
Railways would happen. In my reading of the NAO report, it
says that the £1.5 billion of savings will not be met in time.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers says
that another half billion could be achieved if we removed the
profit motive from the railways, where a huge amount is wasted on
shareholders. When will the Government progress on GBR and when
will we get a date for its implementation? Is it not time for
them to bite the bullet and renationalise our railways, as we
have done successfully with several lines?
At the heart of rail reform is integrating track and train. I am
very pleased that the Transport Committee has taken on the role
of being the pre-legislative scrutiny Committee for the draft
Rail Reform Bill, and is now scrutinising that legislation. The
cut-off date for evidence is next Wednesday, if the hon.
Gentleman would like to put his suggestions forward. I hope that
the Committee will complete its report by July; the Government
will have two months to respond to the recommendations, and if we
have cross-party support for an integrated rail body that brings
track and train together, I hope we will be able to bring in
legislation to that effect, and improve rail services for
everyone.
Dr Huq
High Speed 2, with its out-of-control costs, is compounding local
misery, because it is now set to close the vital artery of Old
Oak Common Lane for four to five years. We only know that because
it leaked out, which shows the Government’s disregard for
community and transparency. What assurances can the Minister give
about funding for the Euston leg, so that the world-class
interchange that we were promised does not end up being the
terminus, and so that my long-suffering residents do not pay the
price of Government project mismanagement by being hemmed in
until 2030 because they cannot get on their one access road to
the outside?
An Old Oak Common terminus provides a great opportunity for
regeneration in the area. I have visited a number of times, and I
am committed to working with the community to minimise impacts.
One of the ways that is being done is by ensuring that the spoil
is removed by conveyor, rather than by lorry. We do seek to
minimise the impact; we recognise that when new rail stations are
built, there is an impact.
Turning to the hon. Lady’s concern about Euston, I have met our
property developer partners Lendlease. Our aim is to deliver not
just a station, but the largest public sector land deal in
London, which will completely regenerate the area. It will
deliver offices, jobs and homes, and will also provide the
funding to deliver the station, not just for HS2 but for Network
Rail. We are committed to ensuring that Network North delivers
that station.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
Earlier this month, the National Audit Office issued a damning
report that made it clear that this Government’s refusal to bring
forward long-delayed rail reforms is costing taxpayers dearly.
Avanti West Coast made the amount of waste in our rail system
crystal clear when it bragged about getting “free money” from
Government, despite the truly shocking service that it delivers,
so it should come as no surprise that yesterday, northern Mayors
and council leaders unanimously called for Avanti to lose its
contract due to its appalling service. The question for the
Minister today is simple: will he strip Avanti of its
contract—yes or no?
No, we will not. The reason is that there are issues with the
west coast main line that will remain, regardless of who the
operator is. It is essential to get underneath the bonnet, look
at the issues and fix them, rather than looking just at what is
on the side of the car. To take just one four-week period from
Christmas, 65% of the delays in that period were down not to the
operator but Network Rail, and they involved weather-related
issues as well as trespass and, sadly, suicides, which we need to
minimise.
We also have issues with restrictive contracts, and I would like
change there. For example, Avanti is unique as an operator, in
the sense that its drivers will not double-trip. They will do one
return journey, but will not go over the same leg of rail twice.
[Interruption.] The hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley () asks whose fault that is.
That contract was agreed in 1997, so maybe we know whose fault it
was. That sums up this ludicrous situation: we are talking about
a contract from 1997 that was due to end in five years, in 2002,
yet that contract between the union and any operator remains.
Until we can make progress on restrictive contracts, we will not
be able to make changes. A Government cannot break the
contract—it is between the operator and the union. I welcome the
steps that Mick Lynch—
Mr Speaker
Order. I do not mind having an Adjournment debate or statement on
this subject if we need one—I am more than happy to allow one—but
we cannot have it now; I have a bit to get through. But the
Minister’s answer was excellent, I am sure. I call the SNP
spokesman.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
I start by thanking Alex Hynes for having done a fantastic job
running Scotland’s Railway for seven years. He is departing to
become the director general of rail at the Department for
Transport, where he will help steer rail reform. And what a job
he has! As we have heard, the National Audit Office said that
rail reform was not on track. Not only are there £1.5 billion a
year in lost savings, but the Department has failed to make
planned savings of £4.1 billion from workforce reforms and the
establishment of Great British Railways
Cuts of £4.1 billion to the transport budget were nevertheless
announced by the Chancellor two weeks ago. Does the Minister
agree that his Government are unable to make savings, but all too
willing to make cuts?
No, I do not. I am delighted at the appointment of Alex Hynes,
who will become a director general in the Department for
Transport. He will put track and train together in the
Department, and that departmental section will move out
to Great British
Railways once the legislation is put in place, so I do not
agree at all. The appointment demonstrates that we are getting on
with rail reform by appointing the right staff, and we have
started on the legislative path.
Mr Speaker, I know I take too long at the Dispatch Box when I
talk about the need to fix such contracts, but they are
complicated. This session should not be about cheap soundbites;
it does not work like that. It should be about getting into the
detail. There are sticky contract provisions that the courts will
not allow a Government or an operator to break unilaterally. I do
wish this House would be a bit more intellectual in its approach
to scrutiny.
Active Travel: Newcastle upon Tyne
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
6. What steps he is taking to support active travel in Newcastle
upon Tyne.(902096)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
This Government are investing more than any other in active
travel. Around £15 million has been provided to Newcastle upon
Tyne since 2020-21 to deliver high-quality infrastructure. That
is supported by over £2 million of funding to Transport North
East to improve capability across the region. Active Travel
England supports local authorities in delivering maximum value
for money by ensuring that schemes comply with the relevant
guidance, and councils receive tailored support from the
Government.
Walking and cycling prevent 1,500 serious long-term health
conditions on Tyneside every year, according to the walking and
cycling index, and they bring in £400 million in economic
benefits, so it is no wonder that half of Tynesiders want to walk
or wheel more, and that two fifths want to cycle more, but if
they are to do that, the streets need to be made safer. What is
the Minister doing, apart from undermining low traffic
neighbourhoods, to make our streets safer for walking, wheeling
and cycling?
With great respect to the hon. Lady, she knows full well that her
council attempted to have an active travel scheme in Jesmond, and
it so messed it up that it had to scrap the scheme. The LTN was
scrapped, and there were 23,000 objections and a considerable
waste of money. With due respect, active travel is doing a great
job, and we support it, but councils have to take local
communities with them.
Rail Services
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(Con)
7. What steps he is taking to improve rail services.(902097)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Officials and I are focusing on improving rail services in the
short and long term. This week, I brought together
representatives from across the rail industry for a leaders in
rail session to discuss how, collectively, we can make changes to
deliver a better passenger experience. Longer term, we remain
committed to bringing track and train back together
under Great British Railways
and to continuing to build on the £100 billion of investment
since 2010.
Carshalton and Wallington is one of the poorer parts of London
for connectivity. It was promised that the ultra low emission
zone would bring additional public transport investment, but
instead the 455 bus has been scrapped, the Go Sutton bus has been
scrapped, the 410 bus service is being reduced, and the Superloop
is just an existing bus route that has been rebranded. One thing
that would improve connectivity is delivering on the Croydon area
remodelling scheme that National Rail and Network Rail are
working on to improve connectivity in London and the south-east.
What discussions is the Department having with Network Rail about
moving this project forward?
I thank my hon. Friend, who is an absolute champion of that
project, and he makes his point clear. Upgrades made in the
Gatwick area are already delivering significant improvements to
the Brighton main line, and the industry continually reviews how
best to respond to changes in demand. I understand that my hon.
Friend has been in discussions with the operator on the options
for increasing capacity on busy weekend services between
Carshalton and London Victoria, and that Govia Thameslink Railway
will shortly respond to him directly. I will continue to work
with him on the enhancement project that he champions.
(Nottingham South)
(Lab)
The leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, who has a nice side
hustle as the hon. Member for Mansfield (), once said:
“The full delivery of HS2’s Eastern Leg is what the East Midlands
needs to support and create highly skilled jobs, link communities
to opportunities and decarbonise our transport network.”
As he failed to persuade the Prime Minister, who cancelled that
vital investment in our region’s rail services, can the Minister
tell me how we will now deliver the transformative change to our
connectivity, sustainability, job creation, productivity and
social mobility that HS2 promised? Filling a few potholes will
not cut it.
I certainly look forward to the day when my hon. Friend the
Member for Mansfield () is also an excellent East
Midlands Mayor, and we are devolving more powers to the east
midlands to help him with that task. The hon. Member for
Nottingham South () references HS2 moneys,
from which more than a £1 billion will be allocated to the Mayor
of the East Midlands to spend on the transport projects that he
and, indeed, the hon. Lady may want. That allows us to devolve
more projects to the local area, and we have been absolutely
clear that all the moneys that have been saved as a result of the
HS2 cancellation will be reinvested primarily in the north and
the midlands.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Select Committee.
(Milton Keynes South)
(Con)
The recent Budget contains welcome additional funding for
east-west rail. What are the Minister’s intentions for that
additional funding? May I suggest that he work with the Bletchley
towns fund board, of which I am a member, on using the money to
provide an additional eastern entrance to Bletchley station,
which will improve accessibility and enhance regeneration?
I am happy to work with the Chair of the Select Committee, and I
thank him for the evidence session we had on east-west rail. It
was also brilliant to go to the Winslow and Calvert area to see
that final link put in place. The first phase of east-west rail
is ready for opening next year. Winslow station is looking
absolutely superb, and I am so excited to see rail services come
back there. On the second phase from Bletchley to Bedford, as he
rightly says, money has been allocated from the last Budget to
deliver that. I am certainly happy to meet him and the Bletchley
team to see what more they can do to enhance the station for both
the first and second phases.
(Battersea) (Lab)
Wandsworth Town and Battersea Park stations in my constituency
will soon be made fully accessible, thanks to the Access for All
funding. Queenstown Road has been nominated for the next round of
funding, but a decision has still not been made. Can the Minister
tell the House when the Department plans to announce which
stations have been successful in control period 7? Will they
include Queenstown Road in my Battersea constituency?
I am delighted by the progress that the hon. Lady mentions, and
she is right about that third station. I will meet officials, so
that I can write to her with the details. I am keen to work with
her local authority to see how we can use regeneration moneys to
achieve that end. As for building on the 240 Access for All
step-free access stations that we have, we will make decisions
shortly. We have been through 300 brilliant applications, and we
are shortlisting them for delivery. I will happily write to her
to ensure that she has the detail about her projects.
Sir (Elmet and Rothwell)
(Con)
Long before I was elected, it had been identified that in the
east direction, the Leeds to Selby railway line had only a
footbridge, which restricted access for so many people. Will my
hon. Friend join me in welcoming the construction taking place on
the Access for All bridge in Garforth? It shows that Conservative
MPs working with Conservative Governments improve rail services
for all constituents.
My right hon. Friend is spot on, as always. I thank him for his
work, because ultimately that project would not have got off the
ground without the campaigning and partnership that he provided.
It just shows that a superb MP working in the community, and the
Access for All stations fund, which has delivered 240 projects
and will deliver more, is a winning partnership.
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
Passengers in my constituency of Edinburgh West face consistently
overcrowded trains from ScotRail, which was taken into public
ownership by the Scottish Government in 2022; an unreliable
service from Avanti; and now a staggering pilot from London North
Eastern Railway, in which east coast main line prices from
Waverley to King’s Cross will increase by 123% in some cases.
Does the Minister agree that that is not providing a good service
to the people of Edinburgh, or those anywhere else on that line?
It is the wrong move when we are trying to encourage more people
on to the railways.
The trial with LNER tries to give passengers greater flexibility.
They can now get on a train 70 minutes either side of the one
that they booked, rather than just the one fixed train. Only 11%
of fares are impacted in that trial, and 55% are better value
than before. Working with our partners at LNER, we are trying to
flatten out demand, rather than having crowded trains followed by
quieter trains. We hope to change the number of passengers on
trains, which would make for a better service overall. I will
happily write to the hon. Lady, because I believe that the trial
has great merits. We sometimes have to be bold and try fares and
ticketing reform. If we do not, we will never change the system
that many criticise for being too complex.
(Aldridge-Brownhills)
(Con)
Thanks to the support and determination of West Midlands Mayor
, we will see a train station
and the return of passenger train services to Aldridge for the
first time in 65 years, which is something many people thought
would never happen. The service will start at Walsall, but now
that we have the west midlands rail hub, will my hon. Friend
agree to continue to work with me and others to secure a service
to London?
Yes indeed. Thanks to our great West Midlands Mayor , we now have the midlands rail
hub, which will better connect more than 50 stations across the
midlands. My right hon. Friend has championed Aldridge station
for many years, and it is now being delivered. As she said, the
service to Walsall will open, and it will have a car park as well
as a platform service. I am committed to working with her to
extend that reach even further. I congratulate her on delivering
that station.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State, .
(Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)
The Minister will have seen reports this week that 3,000 jobs are
at risk at Alstom rail factory in Derby. The Government told us
that they were doing everything in their power to prevent those
job losses, but they appear to be failing. It gets worse: this
morning, I received correspondence from Hitachi Rail, warning
that despite years of representation to Ministers, no solution
has been found that will keep its order books full and safeguard
the future of 700 staff at its factory in Newton Aycliffe. The
Secretary of State has it in his power to vary contracts and
commission the necessary orders. When will he do that and protect
those jobs?
The Secretary of State has led for the Department on the response
to Hitachi and Alstom, and their understandable concerns about
orders. As I have said, we have a challenge, in that while fleet
can last from 35 to 40 years, the average age of our fleet is
under 17 years. We have modernised 8,000 out of our 15,500
carriages, and as a result there is a lag with the order book. We
are doing everything we can to work with all four train
manufacturers to bring more tenders through. Those will be for
the TransPennine Express, Northern, Southeastern and, as the
Secretary of State mentioned, Chiltern Railways. The work to find
a resolution is done in partnership between train manufacturers,
the Secretary of State and the Department, and we hope to find
that resolution.
North Cotswold Line: Dualling
(West Worcestershire)
(Con)
10. Whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential
merits of dualling the North Cotswold Line between Oxford and
Worcester. (902101)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
I recognise my right hon. Friend’s long-standing campaign on this
scheme; she has worked alongside stakeholders including the North
Cotswold Line Task Force. We continue to work with local
stakeholders on their aspirations for enhancements to the
line.
I thank the team of Ministers for the £209 million that has been
allocated to Worcestershire County Council from HS2 money, to
help with local transport improvements. Will the Minister endorse
a project in which we work with Oxfordshire County Council to
find ways to redouble sections of the Oxford to Worcester line?
That will result in faster, more frequent and more reliable
services on the beautiful north Cotswold line.
As my right hon. Friend mentions, additional funding through
Network North will help. Network Rail has been working with the
taskforce and its consultants on timetable capacity and analysis,
to see whether there is a smarter way to deliver additional
services, with fewer infrastructure interventions. We expect that
work to complete next month. I would be delighted if my right
hon. Friend would join me and leaders of Worcestershire and
Oxfordshire County Councils, and her neighbouring MP, to discuss
this matter in the coming weeks.
Transport Connectivity: North of England Cities
(South Ribble)
(Con)
12. What steps he is taking to improve transport connectivity in
cities in the north of England.(902103)
The Secretary of State for Transport ( )
Network North announced £19.8 billion of investment in the north
of England, including £2.5 billion for the local transport fund,
and is increasing the city region sustainable transport
settlements to £12.4 billion from 2027. My hon. Friend’s local
authority, Lancashire County Council, will receive nearly £500
million from the local transport fund, an additional £7 million
for the bus service improvement plan, and an uplift of £244.5
million for road resurfacing.
To truly build our northern powerhouse and contribute to economic
growth, direct connections between cities such as Liverpool and
Preston are really important. Does the Secretary of State agree
that taking out the buffers at Ormskirk, which were put in for
purely administrative reasons in the 1960s and prevent direct
trains, is a great idea and that such services would be further
enabled by battery technology? Does he agree that that would
enhance the case for stopping the nonsense at Midge Hall station,
which was closed by Beeching in the ’60s, where passenger trains
stop but passengers can only peer out at the platform because
they cannot get on or off?
Mr Speaker
It’s true.
Mr Harper
I am sure that my hon. Friend is glad to have your endorsement
for her question, Mr Speaker. The Government believe that local
authorities are best placed to promote and take forward those
schemes and, as I said, the local transport fund in the north
will mean that £2.5 billion will be available for them. I
encourage her to work with stakeholders such as Lancashire County
Council. I had the pleasure of discussing a number of those local
schemes when I recently met its leadership on a visit to
Preston.
(Ellesmere Port and Neston)
(Lab)
When I have been contacted by constituents excited by the news of
the local transport fund, I have asked my local council officers
when we can begin some of these projects, but they have been told
by Department for Transport civil servants that the bulk of the
money will not come until the end of the decade. When will we
have some timelines for the delivery of that money? I do not want
my constituents to have their expectations raised
unreasonably.
Mr Harper
I am pleased that the hon. Gentleman’s local authority will get
£168 million. We have been clear that that money will come over a
seven-year period, and we will shortly publish guidance for the
local authority on how it can go about that. I hope he will be
pleased to know that we will make it clear to local councils that
when they put their plans together, Members of Parliament should
be involved in developing schemes so that he and other hon.
Members can represent their constituents and their local
transport priorities.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Sefton Central) (Lab)
If the Secretary of State wants to improve connectivity between
our great northern cities, he might want to start by repairing
the roads. The backlog of local road repairs has gone up by 16%
this year alone to £16.3 billion. The Network North announcement
is spread over 11 years, and its average annual contribution
accounts for only a third of the £2.3 billion annual increase in
the backlog. That is not all going to roads anyway, and it will
go nowhere near addressing the damage done since 2016, when the
Government slashed the road repair budget in half. When will the
Secretary of State apologise to road users for the damage that
his Government have caused and admit that they have failed to
repair the potholes?
Mr Harper
What the hon. Gentleman says is interesting. We made a commitment
to take the money from the cancellation of the second phase of
High Speed 2 to make £8.3 billion available for local road
maintenance—[Interruption.] Yes, it is over 11 years, but we made
the first tranche of money available this financial year, and
again next financial year. We will set out the allocations in due
course. That money is available only because we made the decision
to cancel the second phase of HS2. Labour cannot give a straight
answer on that question, and it has not committed to spending
that £8.3 billion at all. Drivers know that they will only get
that investment with a Conservative Government.
Topical Questions
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(902113)
The Secretary of State for Transport ( )
We are getting on with delivering the plan for drivers, with new
statutory guidance requiring local support for low-traffic
neighbourhoods and strengthened guidance supporting 20 mph limits
where they make sense—not in blanket measures, as in Wales. If
councils do not listen, they could see their future funding
affected. We are consulting on removing the profit motive from
council traffic enforcement while speeding up traffic lights
across the country.
As I just said, that follows our record funding increase for
improving our roads, with £8.3 billion of reallocated HS2
funding—something that Opposition Members have refused to
support. There is nothing wrong with driving, and the plan for
drivers, which was dismissed as nonsense by the shadow Secretary
of State, shows that only the Government are on the side of
drivers.
I thank the Minister for buses, the hon. Member for Hexham
(), for sharing with me the list of actions he managed
to elicit from north-east bus operators following my debate on
real-time bus information. However, no dates were given. This
afternoon, our fantastic candidate for North East Mayor, , is launching her vision
for transport in the north-east. Can the Minister confirm that
those actions will be fulfilled to enable her to deliver on her
commitment to real-time bus information as soon as possible?
Mr Harper
I am pleased to be able to tell the hon. Lady that within a week
of her debate in Westminster Hall, my hon. Friend the Minister
for buses made sure that those meetings took place, so the
actions that are necessary are under way. I am sure that my hon.
Friend will be able to update her on the specific timeline in due
course.
(Southend West) (Con)
T2. The Rail Minister is well aware that Network Rail continues
to let down disabled residents and visitors and families at
Chalkwell station by repeatedly failing to install the
much-needed disabled lift. This is the seventh time I have raised
this issue in this place. Two years ago, I was promised that the
lift would be installed this year. I have now been told it will
not even be started until next year. This is a disgrace. What can
the Minister do to accelerate this project and address this poor
performance?(902114)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
There was a retendering at Chalkwell, and Network Rail found that
the existing structures would not be suitable to deliver the
project as it stood. The design work is going on right now and
building will happen next year. My hon. Friend is right that the
delay is not acceptable. I will meet her at Chalkwell station and
bring the Network Rail team along so that we can talk her through
the project and its challenges and, if we can, show how we will
speed it up.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Wythenshawe and Sale East)
(Lab)
If the Secretary of State is not spouting conspiracy theories, he
is exuding incompetence. Ashford authorities warned Parliament
that 14 hours of queues were a “reasonable worst case” scenario
with the implementation of the EU entry/exit system this autumn.
Why has he failed to adequately prepare for the queues at our
ports and airports?
Mr Harper
I just do not recognise the hon. Gentleman’s characterisation. We
are working very hard with colleagues across Government. I
recently had a very good meeting with colleagues at the port of
Dover, and we meet with other operators. There are very good
plans in place, work is proceeding at pace, and I am confident
that the EES will go very smoothly when introduced. The plans are
in place and work is under way.
Mr Speaker
I call Mark Eastwood—not here. I call .
(Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
(Alba)
I do not have a topical question.
(Cleethorpes) (Con)
T5. I thank the Secretary of State and the Rail Minister for
their support for my campaign to deliver a direct train service
between Cleethorpes and King’s Cross. Will the Rail Minister give
an update on when the service is likely to start?(902118)
I thank my hon. Friend. He has been a champion not only for
Cleethorpes’ direct rail service, but for the east coast main
line timetable change that was announced in the Budget. We are
now going through the stages with those who use the lines to
ensure we do not have any timetabling issues like those that
arose in May 2018. I hope we will come to a position on this in
some weeks and that I can give him more detail, but I very much
hope to see those direct services to Cleethorpes. This timetable
change was designed to bring in great improvements such as the
one he has championed.
(North Ayrshire and Arran)
(SNP)
T9. Three years ago, levelling-up funding for the upgrade of the
B714 in my constituency was announced. So far no funds have been
forthcoming. If and when the funding is finally allocated, what
support can the Secretary of State provide to help ensure that
this funding is sufficient to fulfil the upgrade, given that the
cost of labour and materials are now much higher than they were
three years ago?(902122)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
That is a matter for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities. I will take it up with the Department and make sure
that it writes to the hon. Lady.
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
T6. Residents in Harrogate and Knaresborough often face train
cancellations, sometimes at very short notice, causing much
frustration and inconvenience. A shortage of drivers and train
crew is often the cause of the cancellations, and I have raised
that with the train companies involved. What steps is my hon.
Friend taking to ensure that vacancies are filled and operational
training is prioritised?(902119)
That is a challenge. The shortage of crew is largely down to
sickness, the level of which is about 8.5%, which is too high. We
are working with the operator to ensure that it is working on
that, and with the northern rail partnership, to ensure there is
more resilience on that line. The training backlog needs to be
cleared, working in co-operation with the unions rather than them
going on strike. We should be able to ease that backlog and get a
better service for my hon. Friend and his constituents.
(Somerton and Frome) (LD)
Last week, the Prime Minister failed to provide my constituents
with any assurance about proposals for a train station in the
Somerton and Langport area, but he did state that money was
available to invest in local transport across the country. Will
my constituents see that money? Once again, when will the
Langport Transport Group hear back regarding its strategic
business case, which it submitted almost two years ago?
I will happily write to the hon. Lady and the Langport Transport
Group so that they have a response, if they feel that that is
outstanding. The Prime Minister has committed to ensure that the
Network North money made available from the cancellation of High
Speed 2 is spent where HS2 would have been delivered. That mostly
includes the north and the midlands, but there will be other
projects in the rest of the country through the recycling of the
funding from Euston.
(Witham) (Con)
T7. The Secretary of State is well aware of the A12 widening
scheme, and the concerns of my constituents about the route and
design. They are trying to engage with the Department and
National Highways, but a one-person legal challenge is putting
the entire project at risk, despite the Government’s financial
investment. Will the Secretary of State assure me that those
communities will be consulted and engaged with despite the legal
challenge, so that we can make progress?(902120)
Mr Harper
I assure my right hon. Friend that National Highways works
closely with local communities when delivering major projects,
and it will continue to do so on the A12 widening scheme. My
Department is committed to delivering the scheme, and granted
consent for it on 12 January but, as she said, it is subject to
an application for judicial review. I therefore cannot add
anything further, but I will continue to work with her local
residents. If at any time she wants to raise issues with the
scheme with me, I will be delighted to meet her.
(Orkney and Shetland)
(LD)
I thank Ministers for facilitating discussions with the operators
of the search and rescue helicopter service based in my
constituency about the proposed response times. They have been
fairly productive so far, and we will see what the outcome is. It
is apparent already that the decisions are made solely on the
basis of the number of calls and not the nature of the work
undertaken. If the contract conforms to that, can we ensure that
future contracts do not leave us exposed in that way?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
I know how important the helicopter search and rescue services
are in Orkney and Shetland. The right hon. Gentleman has been a
big campaigner for them, and has asked various questions and
secured various debates on the matter. A review is going on about
the recent incident data which will report in the summer, and we
expect to publish it by the end of the year. That should include
the answers to his questions. We are investing more than £1
billion in the new search and rescue service. The number of bases
will go from 10 to 12 overall, and there will be no closure of
bases and no change to services in Orkney and Shetland before
October 2026.
(South Basildon and East
Thurrock) (Con)
T8. As my hon. Friend will know, I have serious reservations
about the proposed lower Thames crossing and its ability to
tackle congestion at the existing Dartford crossing. Many of the
arguments were rehearsed as part of the development consent order
process, which completed on 20 December. As I understand it, the
Planning Inspectorate has three months from then to come up with
a recommendation, which by my calculation was yesterday. Can my
hon. Friend update the House on whether he has received a
recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate and what the
process will be, so that I can ensure that the Department
understands why many of my constituents and I do not believe that
the proposed crossing is the answer to the problem?(902121)
My hon. Friend is right in his estimation of the dates. A
decision will be made in a matter of months, and certainly by the
summer. I am very happy to sit down and have a discussion. I will
be visiting the site very shortly.
(Chesterfield) (Lab)
People across Chesterfield were delighted when the long-standing
campaign for the Staveley regeneration route was given the thumbs
up by the Government, but were then sent into despair when
Derbyshire County Council said it did not have the funds to
provide its small contribution towards it. Will the Secretary of
State update us on whether it will be delivered? What concerns
does he have about the fact that the poverty of local government
sometimes gets in the way of money that his Department has
allocated?
I have looked into this particular scheme and met other
colleagues in the House about it. I will write to the hon.
Gentleman in detail. I am sure we can continue with the
project.
(South East Cornwall)
(Con)
My constituents and businesses face an additional tax to cross
the River Tamar to our main city and beyond. Taking over such key
pieces of infrastructure and funding them through tax measures
which they already pay would create a level economic playing
field and help level up my part of the country. Will the Minister
at least give a contribution towards the maintenance of these
facilities, so this tax does not go up again?
My hon. Friend raised this issue with the Prime Minister only
yesterday; she is a fantastic campaigner on issues relating to
the Tamar bridge. I accept entirely that the Tamar Bridge and
Torpoint Ferry joint committee has recently looked at the
situation. An application is being considered by the Transport
Secretary, and I am happy to meet her again to discuss it
further.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Is the Secretary of State aware that the UK used to be one of the
safest countries in the world, along with Sweden, in terms of
road accidents? He has campaigned with the Prime Minister to help
the driver, but drivers are killing more vulnerable road users
and passengers than for a very long time. Is it not time that
this Government took road safety and the health and welfare of
pedestrians and vulnerable road users more seriously?
Mr Harper
I will say two things. First, on Monday we announced a further
£35 million for our safer roads fund. Secondly, the hon.
Gentleman’s general point simply is not right. I think I am right
in saying that out of 38 comparable countries, we are fifth best
in the world. We have a very good road safety record and,
actually, that position is maintained. We focus on road safety in
everything we do, particularly for vulnerable road users. That is
at the heart of all our policymaking.
(Devizes) (Con)
The A338/A346, which runs north-south through Marlborough, is
regularly choked nose to tail with heavy goods traffic. The
villages of the Ogbournes and the Collingbournes are particularly
affected, including Collingbourne Ducis, where a little girl was
killed three years ago by a heavy goods vehicle. That traffic
should really be on the A34 and the A36 to the east and the west.
We have been waiting many months now for the results of the
north-south connectivity review. Will the Minister tell us when
that will happen, so that we can have a better system for
managing heavy goods traffic through Wiltshire?
As my hon. Friend knows, I grew up in Wexcombe and I know that
particular area of Collingbourne very well. I pass on my
condolences to the individual family. He knows that there are
powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. I will write
to him in detail with the powers that local authorities have to
address that particular point. On the specifics of the review,
that will be contained in road investment strategy 3, which will
be published very shortly.
(Ellesmere Port and Neston)
(Lab)
I listened to the Minister’s response earlier, on why Avanti
should continue to provide rail services. It sounded like he was
reading from one of its press releases. The litany of excuses was
very long, blaming everyone but itself. When will he listen to
the leaders of the north? When will he listen to the people of
the north and get rid of Avanti?
The point I was making is that if the operator changes, the
contracts between operator and the unions will remain unless the
unions are willing to release. There cannot be a unilateral
change. The courts would not allow it. As I say, that was put in
place in 1997. It was supposed to end in 2002, but continued. It
is now, effectively, a part of a term and condition. A change of
operator will not make any difference to that. I do listen to
those in the north and I am delighted that I will be listening to
the leader of ASLEF, because he has agreed to sit down with me so
we can discuss those terms. I hope I can work with all Members of
the House to make that happen.
(Christchurch) (Con)
My Highways Act 1980 (Amendment) Bill, which is due to have its
Second Reading tomorrow, would make it easier for motorists to
make claims against local authorities for damage caused to their
cars by neglect of road maintenance and by potholes. Why are the
Government not supporting my Bill?
I shall be the duty Minister tomorrow, and I look forward to
dealing with this matter.
(Nottingham South)
(Lab)
The Government have been promising action on pavement parking for
a decade, but despite a consultation in 2020, we are still no
further forward. Will the Minister finally listen to disabled
people, parents, children and local councils who overwhelmingly
support a ban, and act to curb this dangerous problem?
That particular issue is on my desk, and we are considering it at
present. I can assure the hon. Lady that the results of the
consultation will be published in the summer.
(Romford) (Con)
For nearly half a century the people of Romford, and those of
wider Essex and east London, have been waiting for the Gallows
Corner A12/A127 junction to be reconstructed. Is it not time we
had some investment for the people of Romford? It seems to go
everywhere else; let us have some in the London borough of
Havering, please.
As my hon. Friend knows, the Government are passionately
committed to improving the A12. Only recently it was the subject
of litigation brought by one individual. I will happily sit down
with my hon. Friend, who for many a year has been a doughty
campaigner for Romford. I entirely agree with him that this needs
to be addressed.
(Don Valley) (Con)
Sadly, Marks & Spencer announced yesterday that it would be
closing its store in Doncaster, but would be expanding its
operation to a retail outlet where there is free parking. Will
the Secretary of State come to Doncaster to see how poor planning
in connection with pedestrianisation, cycle lanes and expensive
parking is driving customers out of Doncaster and turning my city
into a ghost town? Hopefully, with his help we can reverse this
trend.
I was delighted to visit my hon. Friend recently, engage with him
and deal with the individual points that he raised, but I would
be happy to sit down and talk to him again. It seems to me that
there is a way forward with buses and other forms of transport to
help local residents to travel to the shopping centre that he has
mentioned: surely the integrated, multimodal approach is the way
ahead.
(Sedgefield) (Con)
Following many conversations and much engagement, the Secretary
of State and the Ministers are well aware that companies in the
railway rolling stock supply chain, such as Hitachi Newton
Aycliffe, face significant short-term challenges. Next year we
will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first passenger
railway in the world, which runs past a Hitachi factory. Can the
Secretary of State update me on what he is doing to ensure that
companies such as Hitachi have a long-term future in the UK to
build the next generation of north-east trains?
Mr Harper
My hon. Friend has been a doughty campaigner for his
constituents. He has already raised this issue with me on a
number of occasions, and I am glad that he has raised it
again.
I have had frequent meetings with Hitachi’s management in both
the UK and Japan, and we are working very hard to deal with the
situation. Hitachi’s HS2 order was confirmed on the original
terms, and I am working with its representatives. The Rail
Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle
(), recently published the details of the future
rolling stock that is in the pipeline, and Hitachi is very
competitively placed to win orders for much of that. I hope we
will be able to reach a successful conclusion in the very near
future.
