Asked by Baroness Quin To ask Her Majesty’s Government what
are their priorities for transport investment in the North East of
England over the next two years. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State, Department for Transport (Lord Callanan) (Con) My
Lords, the Government’s priority is to create a more reliable and
less congested transport...Request free
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Asked by
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To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their priorities
for transport investment in the North East of England over
the next two years.
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Transport (Lord Callanan) (Con)
My Lords, the Government’s priority is to create a more
reliable and less congested transport network that works
for users, builds a stronger, more balanced economy,
enhances competitiveness and supports housing growth. These
priorities, along with advice from Transport for the North,
will inform the Government’s decisions on investment in the
national networks. At a local level, we expect local
authorities and local enterprise partnerships to use
devolved funds to deliver local plans that help their
communities to prosper.
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(Lab)
My Lords, I congratulate the Minister on his appointment.
When we were candidates on opposing sides in Gateshead in
1992, I do not imagine that we thought we would be facing
each other across the red Benches of this House. Given the
additional infrastructure investment in Northern Ireland,
and given that it will be years, if ever, before HS2
benefits Tyneside and the north-east, I urge the Minister
to bring forward, not delay, badly needed transport schemes
in our region. In particular, I urge him to bring forward
A1 dualling before 2020 and to bring in vital rail
improvements, such as the Ashington to Newcastle rail line,
to help travel-to-work areas in the region.
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I thank the noble Baroness for her question. We both use
all of these transport routes ourselves. In the election in
1992 she did considerably better than I did in votes cast.
The day that Gateshead becomes a Conservative seat I
suspect is still, sadly, a long time away. She makes some
important points. She asked, first, about the A1. As she is
aware, work on the A1 north of Ellingham schemes are due to
start in 2018. Construction of the scheme to dual the A1
between Morpeth and Ellingham is due to start in 2019-20.
Phase 2 of the Tyne and Wear Metro reinvigoration programme
is currently being supported with a capital grant of £317
million. We are currently in discussions with Nexus
regarding its proposals for new rolling stock for the Metro
on the Ashington to Newcastle line. I am aware that this is
a priority of Northumberland County Council and we are
currently in discussions with it about the best method of
achieving it.
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(CB)
I welcome very much the mention of the A1, but for the past
40 years successive Governments have agreed that the
remaining 61% of the undualled A1 ought to dualled. Why has
that not happened?
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As someone who travels on it regularly, I can assure the
noble Lord that I share his frustration. This Government
have the largest programme of transport investment since
Victorian times. Clearly, money is always difficult, but as
I said, we are starting on the programme. I know that the
Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed is definitely
on the case—particularly on my case—and is making this
point with great vigour. We will get on with it as quickly
as possible.
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(Con)
My Lords, can my noble friend tell the House what is being
done to encourage more women to become train drivers and
whether there is a gender pay gap between men and women
train drivers?
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I do not think there is a gender pay gap, particularly on
the railways, between men and women—the problem is just
quantity. Currently 95% of train drivers are men. Women can
do the job perfectly well and, given the state of
industrial relations and the problems on the railways, I
hope that we get many more sensible, pragmatic women train
drivers. They might see the benefits of the current 24% pay
rise that is being offered and want to get on with doing
the job that men, in some cases, sadly, do not.
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(LD)
My Lords, the coalition Government committed substantial
funds to the Highways Agency for schemes, including
dualling a considerable part of the A1 north of Morpeth.
Can the Minister give me a specific assurance that that is
not one of the nine schemes that the Highways Agency is now
reviewing and may not go ahead? Otherwise, can he be quite
firm in the promise that the work will begin in 2018?
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I know that the noble Lord takes a close interest in this
matter as a former Member of Parliament for
Berwick-upon-Tweed. I can give an assurance that the work
that I outlined will start in 2018-19.
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The Lord
My Lords, the proposed expansion of the Tyne and Wear Metro
by the North East Combined Authority will provide very
important greater access for rural towns and villages and
opportunities for local rail integration. How will the
Government support the North East Combined Authority to make
this planned extension a reality? I will be grateful to hear
from the Minister.
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As I mentioned in my earlier answer to the noble Baroness,
Lady Quin, we are currently in discussions with Nexus
regarding its proposals for new rolling stock. DfT and
Treasury officials continue to work with Nexus to understand
the business case for the replacement of the current fleet
and to explore all funding options. As I have also mentioned,
we are currently supporting the Metro with a capital grant of
£317 million. The local growth fund is providing £2.5 million
for the refurbishment of the Metro stop at Newcastle Central
Station and the operational costs are supported by a revenue
grant of £203 million over the nine years. I am aware that
there are proposals to expand the Metro and I can confirm
that officials from my department are in discussions with
Nexus officials to see how this can best be accomplished.
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(Lab)
My Lords—
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(Con)
My Lords—
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Noble Lords
This side!
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The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park)
(Con)
My Lords, it is the turn of the Labour Benches.
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My Lords, we in south-west Wales are not concerned about the
confirmation of new lines but about the apparent abandonment
of a major electrification project from Cardiff to Swansea.
There has been a series of body blows to Swansea of late,
including the long delays in the lagoon. Can the Government
confirm that they have not written off south-west Wales? Do
they believe that life ends at Cardiff?
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My Lords, of course we have not written off south-west Wales.
As I said, we have the largest programme of transport
investment since Victorian times. As regards the particular
scheme he mentioned, we are looking at all the possible
options. New technology now enables bimodal trains to operate
which could allow for a seamless transition from diesel to
electric. I am aware that many parts of the country actually
do not want overhead electric gantries despoiling landscapes;
and in many cases, there is no appreciable increase or
improvement in service by electrification. However, we will
continue to look at all the options.
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