The Prime Minister ()
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on the
transport revolution that we intend to bring about.
There are all sorts of reasons why the city in which we now sit
is the most productive region in the whole of Europe. We have the
time zone, the language and the agglomeration of talents. Above
all, we have a mass transit system that every day conveys
millions of people efficiently and affordably, with tubes and
trains and 8,600 buses, into the central activities zone in the
morning and out in the evening, like the respiration of some vast
undersea coelenterate. As the public transport network has
expanded in the last 150 years, it has brought hope and
opportunity and job prospects to people growing up in every part
of the city and beyond. It is the ambition of this Government to
employ that same utensil—fantastic transport infrastructure—to
unite and level up across the whole country.
Of course there is far more to do in London—frankly, the present
Mayor needs to be shaken out of his complacency—but there is even
more to do across the nation as a whole. Whether they are stuck
in a jam on the A303 or on the outskirts of Lincoln, whether they
are trying to get from Warrington to Manchester or toiling across
the Pennines by rail, people know that this country is being held
back by our inadequate infrastructure. So in the next few weeks
this Government will be setting out more details of the transport
revolution, because we all know the potential of transport to
change people’s life and the life of their town or city. We know
that efficient transport can clean the air and cut pollution and
get cars off the road. We can simultaneously reach our ambition
of net zero by 2050 and shorten people’s commute, giving them
more time with their family, increase productivity and bring
business and investment to left behind communities.
That is why we are embarking now on a massive programme of
investment in local transport, starting with a record-breaking £5
billion of new investment in buses and bicycles. That investment
will mean bus passengers across the country seeing a dramatic
improvement in their daily journeys, with more than 4,000
brand-new buses—zero-carbon, British-built buses—on the roads of
places such as Ashfield, Barnstaple, Southampton, Manchester and
many more towns and cities besides. There will be more services,
including in the evenings and weekends, as well as simpler,
cheaper and more convenient ticketing and properly designed
priority schemes to speed passengers past the traffic jams. It is
an investment that will also mean cyclists enjoying hundreds of
miles of brand-new separated lanes, with “mini-Hollands” blooming
like so many tulips in towns and cities right across the country.
That £5 billion is just the start. My very good friend the
Chancellor of the Exchequer will be making a full announcement in
next month’s Budget, and I have no desire to steal his thunder,
but I can signal today that we are taking forward transformative
improvements from Cornwall to the A1 north of Newcastle, from
south Salisbury to south Ribble, from Cheadle to Chiverton, with
dual carriageways, roundabouts, bypasses and underpasses—and
those are just the roads. We have already set out plans to
explore new investments in the rail network across the north,
developing proposals to reopen the Fleetwood line in Lancashire
and the Ashington to Blyth rail line in the north-east, improving
track and platform capacity at Middlesbrough station—
(Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con)
Hear, hear!
The Prime Minister
Thank you. We will be installing new signalling at Harrogate, one
of North Yorkshire’s busiest stations. Further south, I can today
announce that we will be upgrading the Bristol east junction, a
major pinch point in the rail network of the south-west that
limits access to the Brunel-designed Victorian splendour of
Bristol Temple Meads station.
This transport revolution is local, because it must be local. We
can unite and level up across the country with fantastic local
improvements: better rail; less congested roads; and beautiful,
British-built buses that are cleaner, greener, quieter, safer and
more frequent. Above all, we can improve the quality of life for
people and improve their productivity. We can make places more
attractive to live in and to invest in. But we cannot make these
improvements in isolation from one another, because we will be
doing only half the job; we will not fix the great
musculoskeletal problem of UK transport. Yes, we must fix the
joint between the knee bone and the thigh bone and the shin bone
and the ankle bone. Yes, we must fix the arthritis in the fingers
and the toes, but we also have to fix the spine, and our
generation faces a historic choice. We can try to get by with the
existing routes from north to south. We can consign the next
generation to overcrowding and standing up in the carriageways,
or we can have the guts to take a decision—unlike the party
opposite—no matter how difficult and controversial, that will
deliver prosperity to every part of the country. This will take
50 minutes off the journey time to Glasgow.
When it comes to advocating HS2, it must be said that the task is
not made easier by HS2 Ltd, the company concerned. Speaking as a
Member of Parliament whose constituency is on the route, I cannot
say that HS2 Ltd has distinguished itself in the handling of
local communities. As everybody knows, the cost forecasts have
exploded, but poor management to date has not detracted from the
fundamental value of the project. The review recently conducted
by Douglas Oakervee, copies of which will be placed in the
Library of the House, leaves no doubt of the clinching case for
high-speed rail: a vast increase in capacity, with hundreds of
thousands of extra seats, making it much easier for travellers to
move up and down our long, narrow country. That means faster
journey times. It means not just more capacity, but faster
journey times—extraordinarily fast journey times. Passengers
arriving at Birmingham Airport will be able to get to central
London by train in 38 minutes, which compares favourably with the
time it takes to get from Heathrow by taxi, a point I just draw
to the attention of the House.
But this is not just about getting from London to Birmingham and
back. [Interruption.] It is also considerably faster than the
Piccadilly line. This is about finally making a rapid connection
from the west midlands to the northern powerhouse—to Liverpool,
Manchester and Leeds—and simultaneously permitting us to go
forward with northern powerhouse rail across the Pennines,
finally giving the home of the railways the fast connections they
need. None of that makes any sense without HS2. The
Infrastructure and Projects Authority considers that the first
phase can be delivered for its current projected cost of £35
billion to £45 billion in today’s prices. The designs have been
improved immeasurably thanks to the tireless contributions of
campaigners, including my right hon. Friend the Member for
Chesham and Amersham (
), who I do not think is in her place.
If we start now, services could be running by the end of the
decade, so today the Cabinet has given high-speed rail the green
signal. We are going to get this done, and to ensure that we do
so without further blow-outs on either cost or schedule, we are
today taking decisive action to restore discipline to the
programme. I will be appointing a Minister whose full-time job
will be to oversee the project, a new ministerial oversight group
will be tasked with taking strategic decisions about it, and
there will be changes to the way HS2 Ltd is managed. In line with
Mr Oakervee’s recommendations, we will interrogate the current
costs to identify where savings could be made in phase 1 without
the costs and delays that would be associated with a detailed
redesign, and so that the company can focus solely on getting
phases 1 and 2a built on something approaching time and budget, I
will create new delivery arrangements for both the grossly
behind-schedule Euston terminus and phase 2b of the wider
project.
Before those designs are finalised and legislation is introduced,
we will also present an integrated plan for rail in the north.
Informed by an assessment from the National Infrastructure
Commission it will, in line with the findings of the Oakervee
review, look at how we can best design and integrate rail
investments throughout the north, including Northern Powerhouse
Rail between Leeds and Manchester. I have just spoken to the
Mayor of Greater Manchester, who has warmly welcomed the project,
which I committed to supporting, I seem to remember, during my
first days in office.
I want the plan to identify the most effective design and
sequencing of all relevant investments in the north. For example,
with many in the north crying out for better east-west links
instead of improved north-south ones, which we have heard about
many times in the House, some have suggested delaying or even
cancelling HS2 in order to get Northern Powerhouse Rail done more
quickly. I say to the House that it is not an either/or
proposition: both are needed and both will be built as quickly
and as cost-effectively as possible. To make sure that that
happens we will, working closely with northern leaders, explore
options for creating a new delivery vehicle for Northern
Powerhouse Rail, and we will start treating HS2 north of
Birmingham, Northern Powerhouse Rail and other local rail
improvements as part of one integrated masterplan: high-speed
north.
Something has to change. Those who deny that—those who say that
we should simply build phase 2b and Northern Powerhouse Rail
according to the plans currently on the table—are effectively
condemning the north to get nothing for 20 years. That would be
intolerable, so as we draw up this plan, we are not asking
whether it is phase 2b or not 2b. That is not the question; the
question is how we can bring a transport revolution to the north
sooner.
Altogether, this revolution in local and national transport has
the potential to be truly transformative for the entire country.
Yes, it is ambitious, but ambition is what we have lacked for far
too long. Two centuries ago our ancestors could have been content
with breeding faster horses; instead, they invented the
railways—they created the transport network on which the United
Kingdom rose to economic pre-eminence. They looked to the future
of transport and they made it happen. Today, it is our duty to do
the same. Let us bring about a future where high-speed trains
glide between our great cities, where electric buses convey us
cleanly around our towns, where self-driving cars roam along
roads that are free of the congestion that causes so much
pollution, and where a new generation of cyclists pedal safely
and happily to school and work in tree-dappled sunlight on their
own network of fully segregated cycle paths—[Interruption.] As we
did in London.
This Government will deliver a new anatomy of British transport—a
revolution in the nation’s public transport provision. It will be
a sign to the world that, in the 21st century, this United
Kingdom still has the vision to dream big dreams and the courage
to bring those dreams about. I commend this statement to the
House.
12.45 pm
(Islington North) (Lab)
I thank the Prime Minister for an advance copy of his statement.
Once again, we see the Government taking ideas from the Labour
party, adopting our language, but falling a very long way short
on the substance of it. This is a Government who are unwilling to
make the scale of investment needed to revive parts of this
country that have been decimated by successive Conservative
Governments. This is a Government who have proved themselves
unable to manage infrastructure projects properly and incapable
of keeping a lid on the costs.
Today’s piecemeal announcements do not add up to a serious plan
to rebalance the economy or to tackle the serious climate
emergency that we all face. They do not even come close to
repairing the damage done by a decade of Tory
Government—[Interruption.] Well, it is true—they know it. The
Prime Minister laments our inadequate infrastructure, yet it is
his party that has been starving the country of investment over
the past 10 years, resulting in the worst regional inequality in
Europe. Today, the Prime Minister is selling his announcement as
a prize for parts of the midlands and the north. I simply tell
him this: people in those regions to whom he promised so much in
the general election are going to be sorely disappointed when
they see what actually happens.
Let us take HS2, for example. The Labour party supports HS2 as a
means to boost regional economies and to reduce climate
emissions. It is essential for boosting rail capacity and freeing
up other lines for increased freight use and so on, but we do not
see why the Government should get a slap on the back for
announcing that it is going ahead. After all, it is only because
of the abject failure of successive Conservative Governments to
keep on top of the costs that the project’s future was put in
doubt in the first place.
Today’s proposed boardroom shake-up comes far too late to avoid
the public having to fork out tens of billions more than was
forecast in the first place. It is money that has already been
wasted because of the incompetence of this Tory Government and
their predecessors. The leaked Oakervee review, which apparently
will come out later, was correct to say that HS2 must be fully
integrated as part of the modern railway system. It must extend
to the great northern cities, linking up with Northern Powerhouse
Rail, and eventually to Scotland to end the need for domestic
flying in this country at the earliest possible opportunity.
We are concerned that the links to Manchester and Leeds are now
under review and could, reportedly, be even downgraded. HS2 must
be developed with more sensitivity to local communities and much
more sensitivity to the environmental impact, particularly on
modern and ancient woodlands across the country. If it is to have
public support, the fares on HS2 must be affordable and
comparable with the rest of the fare system on the railway
network. Will the Prime Minister tell us where the trains will be
built? Will those jobs and training be done in this country? What
about other parts of the country such as, for example, the far
south-west? When will the Prime Minister match the £2.5 billion
commitment to upgrade the Great Western main line as our only
train line into the south-west? We need better connectivity
beyond Bristol to Devon and Cornwall.
We believe that the case is now unanswerable that our railways
should be publicly owned and publicly run, to improve the service
and to cut fares by 33%. Does the Prime Minister recognise that
too many people are simply priced off the railways? The average
commuter is now paying £3,067 for their season ticket, £873 more
than when the Conservatives came into office in 2010. Why will
the Prime Minister not cut the cost of travelling? Why should
people in Britain have to pay so much for expensive fares—much
more expensive than those in any other comparable country?
When I first raised the question of buses at Prime Minister’s
Question Time, I was ridiculed by many Tory MPs and by many in
our media. From the look of the front pages of our papers today,
those same quarters now regard the focus on buses as a political
masterstroke. Well, I will take the credit for it. It is fine. In
reality, however, what the Government have said today about buses
is frankly woeful. They have cherry-picked policies from the
Labour manifesto but have underfunded them. That does not make up
for the deep cuts since 2010. Funding for buses has fallen by
£645 million a year in real terms since 2010, 3,300 routes have
been cut or withdrawn, and fares have soared at two and a half
times the rate of average wages.
It is councils that keep bus routes open. We need long-term
funding for local authorities, which have suffered such severe
cuts and now face a further £8 billion black hole over this
Parliament because of underfunding. The Government are still
refusing to give all councils the powers to improve local bus
services and the option of public ownership of their services.
On cycling, all the Prime Minister is actually offering is 250
miles of cycle routes. Our manifesto promised 3,300 miles of
cycle routes all across the country. Again, that is just plain
inadequate from this Government.
Underinvestment by the Conservatives has created problems that
they are forced to acknowledge, but they simply are not serious
about fixing them. Is regional inequality going to be solved by
10 freeports? Is this not just a gimmick creating the storage
spaces for the super-rich to dodge taxes and launder money?
The Prime Minister is clearly fond of announcing big shiny
projects, such as the scheme to build a bridge over the Irish
sea. Why not go the whole hog and make it a garden bridge,
connected to an airport in the sea? It stands as much chance of
actually being built as any of those failed projects put forward
by the former Mayor of London. Or why not make it a cable car
between Scotland and Northern Ireland, or better still a giant
zip wire? The Prime Minister could be the first to try it out.
The saddest thing about today’s announcement is the high
likelihood that so much of it will not be delivered, with the
Prime Minister demanding 5% cuts in the very Departments that are
supposed to carry out these policies. I fear that the communities
that desperately need investment in new infrastructure will be
let down when today’s headlines become yesterday’s news and they
find that nothing has changed.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr Speaker
Order. To help the House, I am expecting to run this statement
until about 1.40 pm. Some Members may not get in, but if we all
help each other we will be much nearer to getting everyone in.
The Prime Minister
I thought the right hon. Member for Islington North () made a manful attempt to
conceal his fundamental agreement with what we are doing. He
raised some interesting points. We are actually doing a transport
revolution across the whole of the south-west, not only by
investing in the sea wall at Dawlish, on the railways, but by
upgrading the roads, including the A303 through the south-west.
We will be doing improvements in Wales, and I think that it is
high time that the Brynglas tunnels were unblocked. We encourage
the Labour Government in Wales to do that. Do not forget that HS2
brings 50 minutes off the journey time to Glasgow. It is for
every part of this country.
As for fares, I remind the right hon. Gentleman that fares rose
twice as fast under the Labour Government—[Interruption.] The
hon. Member for Middlesbrough () is trying to interrupt me
from a sedentary position, and I remind him that the whole point
of putting in another 200,000 seats in capacity is that it
thereby drives down prices for the consumer. It is about
competition.
I thought that the right hon. Gentleman made a heroic attempt to
cavil and disagree with what is fundamentally a wonderful project
for this country. He even tried to dislike our bus plans, I do
not know quite how—[Interruption.] No, no, he claimed them for
himself. I will take that; the Leader of the Opposition, as far
as I understand the position, actively supports the Government’s
announcement today. I congratulate him on that.
(Bexhill and Battle) (Con)
The additional £5 billion for buses and cycle links is greatly
welcome. Last year, the Select Committee on Transport called for
additional funding for buses and a buses strategy, both of which
are coming to fruition. How will the Prime Minister ensure that
the money allocated to local authorities for these projects is
spent by local authorities on these projects? Will it be
ring-fenced and, if not, how will we really ensure that we are
levelling up our public transport system?
The Prime Minister
I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work he does for his
community. I can assure him that we will ensure that when money
is allocated for buses or cycling projects, it is spent on buses
and cycling projects.
(Ross, Skye and
Lochaber) (SNP)
I thank the Prime Minister for an advance copy of the statement.
Let me be mindful of one reality. No number of prime ministerial
vanity projects will ever heal the economic damage and the damage
to connectivity that this Tory Brexit will inflict.
In terms of the HS2 announcement, enhanced rail infrastructure is
obviously welcome, despite the indecision and waste that have
been synonymous with the project. We will wait and see whether
the Prime Minister is capable of getting this decision through
his own party and past his own chief adviser. However, if the
Prime Minister is truly committed to rail connectivity across
these islands, will he engage with the Scottish Government to
improve rail links from Scotland to the major cities of the north
of England, such as Manchester, Newcastle and beyond? Will he
also explore collaboration on the extension of the borders rail
line, and what resources will be provided?
The Prime Minister may talk about his priorities of one nation;
we know what nation he is talking about, and it definitely does
not include the Scottish nation. Can I further ask, given his
previous opposition to the Barnett formula and his party’s
repeated failure to implement it fully, whether he can confirm
whether all the spending he is determined to engage in will be
subject to Barnett consequentials? Yes or no?
I welcome the fact that the UK Government are following the lead
of the Scottish Government, who announced a £500 million bus
infrastructure programme last September. Given the Prime
Minister’s previous association with buses, however, can he
reassure the House that false advertisements will be banned from
the new bus fleet?
Finally, on the bridge, this is a Prime Minister who could not
even build a bridge across the Thames, so he will therefore have
to forgive those of us who are sceptical that he can build one
over the 20-mile expanse of the North sea. Will the Prime
Minister therefore provide the estimated £20 billion for this
project to the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland
Executive so they can spend those moneys on their own priorities?
The Prime Minister
I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that we will of course
collaborate with the Scottish Government on projects that will be
of massive benefit for the whole of our United Kingdom. On his
substantive question about Barnett consequentials, yes, of course
there will be Barnett consequentials as far as the buses are
concerned. As for his plan to build a bridge across the North
sea, I think he needs to look at the geography of the United
Kingdom again. The only obstacle standing in the way of HS2 is
the crackpot SNP plans to put an economic border between England
and Scotland, break up the United Kingdom and have a border at
Berwick.
(Sutton Coldfield)
(Con)
My right hon. Friend’s comprehensive announcement will be widely
welcomed across the west midlands and in Birmingham, and nowhere
more so than in the royal town of Sutton Coldfield. Will he pay
tribute to the superb leadership of our West Midlands Mayor
in marshalling the arguments
and in putting the case for something that will underwrite our
economic prosperity for the future?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. I salute the work of
and his vision for transport
in the west midlands, which will be supported, encouraged and
fomented by HS2.
(Blackley and
Broughton) (Lab)
I very much welcome the announcement as far as HS2 and the
integration into HS3 are concerned. Does the Prime Minister agree
that his statement could be improved and bring more immediate
jobs to the north of England if, as well as building HS2 from
London to the north, we also started building HS2 from the north
to the south? Finally, for real ambition, would he agree that HS2
should go to Scotland, which would help to unite the two
countries?
The Prime Minister
We will certainly get on with building phase 2a immediately, but
I can tell the hon. Gentleman that HS2 already does go to
Scotland; that is one of the great advantages of the project.
(Lichfield) (Con)
The Prime Minister will understand that and I tend to talk about soft
furnishings, as the subject tends to avoid argument, because I am
less than enthusiastic about the route of HS2, which connects
with neither Eurostar, Birmingham New Street nor St Pancras.
However, I am delighted to hear the Prime Minister say that the
organisation of HS1 Ltd will be revised. As HS2 is now going
ahead, does he agree that it is important that we compensate well
those people in my constituency—and in his—who will be affected
by it?
The Prime Minister
The short answer is: of course.
(Nottingham South)
(Lab)
The confirmation that the full HS2 route has been given the
go-ahead is welcome news, and there is a strong case for building
the Birmingham to east midlands part early, but if the project is
to deliver on its potential for our region, we need assurances
that the phase 2b Bill will receive Royal Assent in this
Parliament, and that it will not be delayed further or downgraded
to cut costs. Will the Prime Minister give us those assurances
today?
The Prime Minister
Of course we are committed to phase 2b, but I think the hon.
Member will appreciate—given what has happened in the past 10
years with phase 1—that it is vital that we use this inflection
point to ensure that the taxpayer gets maximum value as we
proceed.
(Banbury) (Con)
My right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham
(
), who is recovering from a major operation, has asked
me to thank the volunteers and donors from all over the nation
who have fought against HS2 over the past 11 years. The last
three years have given us a few lessons in what gracious defeat
looks like, and although I remain worried by the environmental,
financial and governance issues of the project, I really do wish
it all the best. I was particularly pleased to hear what the
Prime Minister said about the northern section and the speed by
which he intends to deliver it, and about buses and bikes. I have
one ask, on taking a holistic approach to blight; if it is
impossible to regrow ancient trees or to get rid of congestion
where it exists, can we please compensate communities by, for
example, building their local hospital?
The Prime Minister
We can certainly ensure that we restore areas where there is
environmental damage—and there will of course be effects on
woodlands. We will be planting 7 million trees, which is many
more than will be destroyed.
(Warrington North)
(Lab)
On balance, I welcome the news that HS2 has been given the
go-ahead, for the capacity gains that will benefit the north-west
region and for the construction and rail supply firms in my
constituency, which I hope will receive a fair shot at winning
contracts associated with the project. However, my constituents
in Culcheth, Croft, Risley and Hollins Green in particular will
be looking for assurances that the unnecessary Golborne spur will
be removed from the proposed route. This is an issue that
transcends party affiliations and on which local MPs are in
agreement. Will the Prime Minister give us those assurances?
The Prime Minister
I have heard representations on the Golborne spur from many
people in this House, and we will certainly be looking at the
matter.
(Altrincham and Sale
West) (Con)
I welcome the increased priority for Northern Powerhouse Rail and
the link from Manchester to Leeds in particular, but will my
right hon. Friend ensure an urgent review of parts of the route
for phase 2b, including the Golborne spur, which is entirely
unnecessary and likely to cost more than £1 billion—completely
wasted money? Will he also look at the fact that the station for
Manchester airport is absurdly not at Manchester airport, and
will instead be built on ancient woodland at Davenport Green in
my constituency?
The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend makes excellent points about the Golborne spur and
Manchester airport. We will certainly be looking at both issues.
(Twickenham) (LD)
Key to cutting carbon emissions and tackling climate change is
cutting domestic flights and moving people on to our railways.
That is why the HS2 announcement is to be welcomed and building a
third runway at Heathrow is an act of environmental vandalism.
Will the Prime Minister now prove his credentials on climate
change, make good on his promise of lying down in front of the
bulldozers, or—far more simply—just cancel the third runway?
The Prime Minister
I see no bulldozers at present, nor any immediate prospect of
them arriving.
(Mid Derbyshire) (Con)
Local authorities have limited resources to deliver their new
local cycling and walking infrastructure plans. Would my right
hon. Friend the Prime Minister support the delivery of parts of
those plans through appropriate local charities, such as the
Derwent Valley Trust in Derbyshire, that are capable of
implementing key sections of the network?
The Prime Minister
Yes. It will be very important to collaborate with appropriate
delivery vehicles, such as the charity that my hon. Friend
mentions.
(Hackney South and Shoreditch)
(Lab/Co-op)
It is good to have certainty over HS2, but the Prime Minister has
unveiled a raft of big spending projects. Where is the money
going to come from?
The Prime Minister
The money is coming through the hard work and effort of the
British people. This Government will manage our finances
prudently and ensure that the economy is not wrecked, as it was
by the last Labour Government.
(Scarborough and
Whitby) (Con)
HS2 will connect with the Elizabeth line and Heathrow airport at
Old Oak Common station—a station that will become every bit as
famous as Victoria or Waterloo. But Old Oak Common will be
neither old nor common, so does the Prime Minister agree that it
should have a name that is iconic and in keeping with its
importance—maybe after the first woman Prime Minister of our
country?
The Prime Minister
That is a brilliant idea. Let us try that one out on the Mayor of
London.
(Doncaster North) (Lab)
May I ask the Prime Minister about the prospects for change in
relation to the eastern leg of phase 2b? The original HS2 vision
was to serve and regenerate our towns, but towns in South
Yorkshire are facing all of the pain and none, or very little, of
the gain. May I commend to him the HS2 North concept, which local
campaigners came up with—they got there first—and which has an
integrated plan to help towns such as Doncaster and Mexborough?
The Prime Minister
The right hon. Member makes a very good point on behalf of
Doncaster. We are certainly looking at the plan that he mentions.
(Stone) (Con)
The Prime Minister knows how bitterly disappointed my
constituents in Staffordshire will be about the decision. May I
simply ask him, when he is considering the question of review, to
include phase 2a from Birmingham to Crewe—and the rest of that
part of the constituency, which is going to be so badly affected?
We need a proper link with Handsacre to ensure that Stoke and
Stafford are properly serviced. Does he understand that, and will
he do everything to ensure that we are kept in the review?
The Prime Minister
Absolutely; on Handsacre, my hon. Friend has my full support.
(Leeds Central) (Lab)
I welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement but, given what he
has said about reviewing phase 2b, could he tell the people of
Leeds when he now expects the new HS2 station to open?
The Prime Minister
We will get it going as soon as possible.
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
May I congratulate the Prime Minister on this statement? He is so
right when he says that the economy of the north needs both
east-west and north-south connectivity. Does he agree that the
challenge we face in transport is not, as sometimes articulated,
between local and national investment—what we need is both?
The Prime Minister
Absolutely. We cannot have the gains of one without the other.
Local productivity will not be boosted unless we improve national
connectivity up the spine of this country, and that is what HS2
is all about.
(Manchester Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
I strongly welcome the announcement today on HS2, but let us be
clear: the question mark was written by the Prime Minister and
his Government, and it should not have been written at all. Under
the terms of the review we are now seeing, can he ensure that the
full benefits of NPR and HS2 are fully integrated at Manchester
Piccadilly station and that no stone is left unturned in making
sure that that can happen?
The Prime Minister
Yes, I certainly can.
(Walsall North) (Con)
Infrastructure costs are frequently driven up by unforeseen
ground conditions. Can the Prime Minister remind the House of the
commitment by this Government to increase spending on research
and development, such as at Birmingham University, which is
working on quantum technology to map those ground conditions?
The Prime Minister
I thank my hon. Friend. He is entirely right. HS2’s investment
will not just drive the construction sector—it will drive the
economy across this country, including in higher education.
(Carmarthen East and
Dinefwr) (PC)
Last time I looked on a map, London, Birmingham, Manchester and
Leeds were all in England. So can the Prime Minister explain why
Scotland and Northern Ireland get a 100% Barnett rating from HS2
while Wales gets nought per cent?
The Prime Minister
Of course, as the hon. Gentleman knows very well from looking at
the map, north Wales will benefit from the Crewe link. I might
say to the representative from Wales that it is high time that
the Welsh Labour Government got on and delivered the M4 bypass at
the Brynglas tunnels. If they will not do it, we in this
Government will.
(North West Leicestershire)
(Con)
HS2 is unloved and unwanted, and has been grossly mismanaged. It
very adversely affects my constituents. Does the Prime Minister
appreciate my and my constituents’ concerns that this could well
be an albatross around this Government’s and the country’s neck,
and does it not set the bar very low for the delivery of
infrastructure projects on time and on budget by all future
Governments?
The Prime Minister
Every great infrastructure project is opposed by people at this
stage. The M25 had 39 separate planning inquiries. The Treasury
was against the M25, and, I seem to remember, delivering the
Olympics, and it tried to get rid of Crossrail. Every single
infrastructure project is opposed at these critical moments. We
have got to have the guts and the foresight to drive it through.
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
(Lab)
In London, thanks to Sadiq Khan’s Hopper fare, I can travel
across the entire Greater London area on two buses—up to 30
miles—for £1.50. In Newcastle, £1.50 will barely get me four
stops up West Road. Will this funding bring north-eastern bus
fares into line with those in London, or is this all bluff and
bluster signifying nothing?
The Prime Minister
I remind the hon. Lady that bus ridership has fallen
catastrophically under the current Labour Mayor because of his
mismanagement of the system. Crime has risen precipitately. We
will ensure not only that we drive down crime, in spite of what
the current Labour Mayor is doing, but that we have fantastic,
cheaper, greener, cleaner buses across the country.
(Cheadle) (Con)
I welcome this statement, particularly the decision to start
treating the local rail improvements under HS2 and Northern
Powerhouse Rail as one integrated masterplan—High Speed North. As
the design stage is brought forward, how are we going to ensure
that local business leaders and communities are included in
deciding what is best for their area locally in terms of this
high-speed rail project?
The Prime Minister
We will make sure that businesses and communities are fully
involved in the preparations for High Speed North.
(Knowsley) (Lab)
The devil, as the Prime Minister well knows, is in the detail.
May I cautiously, though, welcome the announcement on HS2, and
the announcement about linking up the northern powerhouse great
cities? In the course of that, he said, “and Liverpool”. Could he
give us some indication as to what he meant by that?
The Prime Minister
That is at the next stage of the consultation.
(Stafford) (Con)
The Government have ended uncertainty for those who want HS2, but
will my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also end uncertainty
for my constituents in Stafford who have waited years for their
houses to be bought and for compensation to be paid?
The Prime Minister
Yes, we will do just that. I apologise to everybody for the
uncertainty that has been involved.
(Sheffield South East) (Lab)
I welcome the commitment both to HS2 and to Northern Powerhouse
Rail, but in neither case did the Prime Minister mention
Sheffield. Could he therefore confirm that the Sheffield loop
will go ahead as planned in HS2, and that the Northern Powerhouse
Rail improvements are about not just Manchester to Leeds but
Manchester to Sheffield as well?
The Prime Minister
We are proceeding with the whole of the HS2 plan, but, as the
House will appreciate, given what has gone before, it is right
that we interrogate the methods and costs as we go forward with
phase 2b.
(Kenilworth and Southam)
(Con)
My right hon. Friend knows that I do not agree with the decision
he has reached on HS2, but I respect the fact that it was a
difficult decision and I am grateful to him for listening to both
sides of the argument before he made it. Now that it is made, is
it not right that HS2 Ltd needs not just to compensate more
swiftly and more fairly than it has, but to communicate better
than it has with those affected by the line? Will he make that
specifically part of the remit of the new HS2 Minister?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. and learned Friend is absolutely right. The record
of HS2 in engaging and communicating with local people has been
woeful, and we will ensure that that changes from now on.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
The Prime Minister said that it was the SNP that was standing in
the way of high-speed rail to Scotland; in fact, it is his
Government who are doing that. So can he tell us precisely: what
year will the line be extended to Scotland?
The Prime Minister
I am delighted, in the first place, that the hon. Gentleman
supports high-speed rail and that he supports HS2. As I say, the
only obstacle to that great project is the deranged SNP plan to
install an economic barrier—including an immigration barrier, for
all we know—between England and Scotland.
(Derby North)
(Con)
I am delighted by the statement today. Does my right hon. Friend
agree that it supports growth not only in the north but in the
midlands, including the constituents and businesses of Derby
North?
The Prime Minister
Indeed. I thank my hon. Friend for her support. You can go to the
midlands and see the investment already flooding in as a result
of HS2. Let us turbo-charge that now.
(Wirral South) (Lab)
It is kind of funny, in a way, to see the Prime Minister come
here to gleefully re-announce a project that he himself and his
office tried to put a stop to. But while he is in train
set-building mode, can I draw his attention to the Wrexham to
Bidston line that would connect north Wales and Liverpool? Will
he put some extra investment in there so that we can speed up
improvements?
The Prime Minister
We will certainly examine very carefully the proposal that the
hon. Lady makes, and whether it qualifies under our £1.5 billion
Beeching plan.
(Calder Valley) (Con)
As my right hon. Friend knows, Calder Valley has been hit again
by flooding, with the third most devastating flood in seven and a
half years. Getting across the Pennines is a struggle at the best
of times, let alone when you have been flooded, so the news about
Northern Powerhouse Rail is fabulous for us in Calder Valley. But
can he assure the House that we will not wait for HS2B to be
determined before we start Northern Powerhouse Rail?
The Prime Minister
First, I extend my commiserations to all the people of Calder
Valley who have experienced flooding. We all know how traumatic a
flood can be. I can assure my hon. Friend that we will certainly
allow no delay in pushing ahead with all the branches of the
project.
(Aberavon) (Lab)
The HS2 project, albeit somewhat shambolically handled, is great
news for England, but it shows once again the contempt in which
this Government hold the people of Wales. The entire budget for
electrifying the main line to Swansea would be less than 1% of
the vast sums that are being talked about today. So will the
Prime Minister commit today to electrifying the main line to
Swansea, or will he continue to hold the people of Wales in
contempt?
The Prime Minister
As I just said to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
(), north Wales will benefit
from the line to Crewe. We have already electrified the line to
Cardiff. I urge the hon. Member for Aberavon () to get on to his friends
in the Welsh Labour Government, who squandered £144 million on a
study for the bypass of the M4, which they then decided not to
do.
(Wimbledon) (Con)
I warmly welcome what my right hon. Friend has said today,
particularly the announcement on HS2 and the review of the
governance arrangements. Can he confirm that he will use this as
an opportunity to embed the skills we need to deliver that
infrastructure and open academies such as the tunnelling academy
he opened during the Crossrail construction period?
The Prime Minister
Yes, indeed. I remember well working with my hon. Friend on that
project and many others. This will drive jobs and apprenticeships
for young people for a generation to come.
(East Antrim) (DUP)
I welcome the Prime Minister’s investment in the skeleton of the
UK economy—the thigh bone, the knee bone and the ankle bone, to
use his words—but he has forgotten about the red hand of Ulster,
which appears to be detached from his plan. Could he outline what
procurement and project opportunities there will be for Northern
Ireland, including a commitment to a bridge between Northern
Ireland and the UK, which would improve the sinews of the arm and
the attachment of the hand to the rest of the body?
The Prime Minister
The right hon. Gentleman’s characteristic optimism is in marked
contrast to the negativity that we heard from the Leader of the
Opposition. Of course, there will be opportunities for
procurement in Northern Ireland and, indeed, elsewhere. Buses
spring to mind.
(Redditch) (Con)
Redditch is only a short hop away from the HS2 terminus in
Birmingham, so I welcome today’s announcement. Does the Prime
Minister agree that, because my constituency has the highest rate
of people going to work by bus, Redditch is the perfect candidate
for Britain’s first all-electric bus town?
The Prime Minister
What a brilliant idea!
(Oldham West and Royton)
(Lab/Co-op)
This is welcome, if delayed, news, in particular for Manchester
and Greater Manchester. Will the Prime Minister ensure that metro
Mayors and council leaders are hard-wired into the review? Will
he also consider starting at Manchester and meeting in the
middle, to ensure that we get the benefits early on, particularly
for education, skills and jobs in my town?
The Prime Minister
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We will indeed be
working with the metro Mayors and are already consulting them on
exactly that.
(Brigg and Goole)
(Con)
We have had the fluffy end of the lollipop for too long in the
north on transport funding, so I am made up by this decision on
HS2 and HS3, and I support the comments of the right hon. Member
for Doncaster North (). Will the Prime Minister
look at the operator service option fund for underutilised lines?
There are just two services on the Goole-Snaith-Leeds line every
day, which is not enough to allow the people of Leeds to come and
enjoy Goole, so can he look at that and ensure that those lines
are better used?
The Prime Minister
I would be only too happy to look in detail at the Goole-Leeds
line and see what we can do to assist—we will suck it and see, as
they say.
(Newcastle upon Tyne
North) (Lab)
Newcastle and the north-east need this infrastructure investment
in both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail without any further
delay. Will the Prime Minister make an immediately deliverable
improvement to our national infrastructure, to ensure that the
north-east and Newcastle are NPR and HS2-ready, by investing in
our east coast main line, which needs urgent infrastructure
investment between York and Newcastle?
The Prime Minister
The hon. Lady makes an excellent point, and we are indeed
upgrading the digital signalling on the east coast main line.
(Rugby) (Con)
The Prime Minister spoke about the “spine” of our rail network,
which is currently provided by the west coast main line. The
upgrade of that line a few years ago led to many businesses being
attracted to Rugby. What reassurance can he provide to them that,
with HS2 bypassing Rugby, we will retain fast services on a
well-maintained railway?
The Prime Minister
I have looked at that issue, and I am convinced that the existing
capacity will continue to be extremely important and drive jobs
and investment in Rugby, where my hon. Friend and I opened a
fantastic electric taxi factory.
(Wythenshawe and Sale East)
(Lab)
Despite going under my house, HS2 will reduce journey times from
Manchester airport in my constituency to London from two hours 24
minutes to 59 minutes, opening up a plethora of opportunities for
the poor people of the south-east and the great city of
Manchester. The Prime Minister dodged the question from my hon.
Friends the Members for Oldham West and Royton () and for Blackley and
Broughton (). If he wants to level
up and have a northern powerhouse, why does he not start building
the line from Manchester down?
The Prime Minister
We are building Northern Powerhouse Rail as fast as we can, but
the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that that project is not in
the state of readiness of the Birmingham to London route.
(Eddisbury) (Con)
How do we realise more benefits for towns such as Winsford in my
constituency by integrating Northern Powerhouse Rail, the
conventional rail network and HS2? Can my right hon. Friend
confirm that the Cheshire salt mines and the threat of sinkholes
will be considered as part of the next review?
The Prime Minister
I can certainly confirm that the threat of sinkholes from the
Cheshire salt mines will be considered as part of the review.
(Bradford South) (Lab)
I welcome the announcement that the northern section of HS2 will
go ahead because, crucially, it will be integrated with NPR. As
the Prime Minister said, this country has been held back by
inadequate infrastructure, so does he agree that Northern
Powerhouse Rail must include a city centre stop in Bradford?
The Prime Minister
I thank the hon. Lady for the representation she makes on behalf
of Bradford. I see the point that she makes, and we will consult
on that issue shortly.
(Crewe and Nantwich)
(Con)
I welcome the announcement today—the Prime Minister has well and
truly swept the leaves off the line of transport infrastructure
investment in this country. I know that jobs and businesses will
benefit not in London but locally, in Crewe and Nantwich. When it
comes to bus investment, can we ensure that local residents have
a strong voice in deciding where the new buses go and how often
they go there?
The Prime Minister
Of course, it is vital that the expansion of local bus services
meets local demand. In my experience, there is no shortage of
local demand in most parts of the country.
(Brighton, Pavilion)
(Green)
HS2 is a dire reflection on this Government’s environmental
credentials, with the destruction of 100 ancient woodlands and a
miserably small modal shift of just 5% of passengers who would
otherwise fly or drive. Indeed, the Government’s own figures show
that HS2 does not cut carbon emissions. If it is to go ahead,
surely it should be required to meet at the very least the
European average for high-speed rail modal shift, which is 15%
for cars and 30% for planes—why does it not?
The Prime Minister
We have just announced the biggest ever package in history for
zero-carbon buses and possibly hydrogen buses as well. HS2 is the
most low-carbon, efficient way of getting around this country.
Will nothing please them?
(Elmet and Rothwell)
(Con)
I congratulate the Prime Minister on grasping the nettle and
building this infrastructure in the north, which is really
welcome and delivers on our manifesto promises. One reason for
the rising costs in Leeds is the incompetence of Leeds City
Council—with a Labour leader, who, quite frankly, could not
organise an event at one of the local breweries—which is putting
the station in a totally inappropriate place. As part of the
review, will my right hon. Friend look properly at where the
station is located and the ability to use existing rail routes
and infrastructure?
The Prime Minister
There will be a review—I must be clear with the House. We will be
going forward with the whole programme, but we will ensure that
we get proper value and proper political leadership and grip of
the whole programme.
(Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)
For four decades, the east midlands economy has been losing
skilled work, which has caused extraordinary damage to our
communities. HS2 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse
that decline and add tens of thousands of skilled jobs to our
community. The Prime Minister has taken a difficult but welcome
decision. Can he reassure east midlands people that there will
not be any unnecessary delay to HS2b and that Midlands Engine
Rail will be woven into the scheme?
The Prime Minister
Yes, I can.
(Sedgefield) (Con)
I particularly welcome the Northern Powerhouse Rail connection
with HS2. Will the Prime Minister look at the procurement process
and ensure that UK-based companies, such as Hitachi Rail in my
constituency, have a real chance of getting the business out of
it? Can it be done as quickly as possible, so that they have an
opportunity to plan?
The Prime Minister
I thank my hon. Friend. He has lobbied me personally several
times on that issue, and I can assure him that the plant and the
jobs in question will be uppermost in our minds.
(Aberdeen South)
(SNP)
At the last count, HS2 was projected to cost the city of Aberdeen
£220 million. Based on that figure, does the Prime Minister agree
that HS2 will be an economic disaster for my city?
The Prime Minister
On the contrary, HS2 will shorten journey times across the whole
United Kingdom, in particular Scotland. Indeed, as I said
earlier, there will be Barnett consequentials following the
fantastic announcements that we have made today about buses and
other modes of transport.
(Scunthorpe)
(Con)
I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his statement and vision
to power up the north through transport. Historically, Scunthorpe
steel has been used for many national infrastructure projects
such as the two HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers. Does he
agree that we should use our world-class steel such as that we
produce in Scunthorpe for such projects?
The Prime Minister
I pay tribute to the workers of British Steel for what they do.
Most of our train tracks come from British Steel, whether in
Scunthorpe or elsewhere, and we will do our utmost,
notwithstanding the difficulties that the plant faces, to ensure
that that remains the case in future.
(Warwick and Leamington)
(Lab)
When we first talked about HS2 10 years ago, we were not talking
about a climate emergency. Given that the landscape has changed
in that respect, the Government should invest significantly more
than proposed in sub-regional transport systems such as buses and
cycle routes, as the French and continentals are doing.
The Prime Minister
I think I can say without fear of contradiction that I have built
more cycle lanes than anyone else in the House—that was not
always popular—but that is nothing compared with what we are
about to do. The investment that we are about to make in buses is
absolutely colossal, and I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman
finds grounds for criticism.
(Tunbridge Wells) (Con)
I warmly welcome my right hon. Friend’s attention to the spine of
the country, but will he apply his orthopaedic talents to what
should be the muscular limb that connects London to Hastings, as
it will take longer to get to Hastings than the hour that it will
take to get to Manchester in future?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend makes an extremely good point, and I shall
certainly examine the London to Hastings route. I do not know
which part of the anatomy it should be, but it is vital to our
nation’s prosperity, whatever it is.
(Rhondda) (Lab)
Is the Prime Minister seriously suggesting that there will not be
a single extra penny for Wales as a result of today’s
announcements? Before he gives me any bluster about anything
else, the truth of the matter is that they promised that they
were going to electrify the line all the way to Swansea. They
said that by 2017 the valleys lines to my constituency would be
electrified. None of that came to pass. All we want is a new
railway line in the Rhondda Fach, and to open the tunnel from
Blaencwm to Blaengwynfi. Will he promise that today?
The Prime Minister
As I have told the House, we have electrified the line up to
Cardiff. When it comes to tunnels—it is not a widely known
fact—the Welsh Labour Government, which the hon. Gentleman
supports, spent £144 million on a study on whether or not to open
the Brynglas tunnels. Open the tunnels and unblock the muscles of
the Welsh dragon.
(South Suffolk) (Con)
I very much welcome the statement, particularly my right hon.
Friend’s commitment to a more convenient ticketing system. Many
of my constituents commute into London three or four days a week
for a better work-life balance, but find that they have no choice
but to pay the cost of a full-time season ticket. I urge him to
ensure that the trial of part-time season tickets is rolled out
nationwide so that we have a ticketing system that suits the
modern-day reality of our flexible labour force?
The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport assures
me that that is indeed his intention.
(Kingston upon Hull West and
Hessle) (Lab)
We have had 10 years of rail downgrades in Hull, from cancelling
electrification to older trains taking longer to arrive at their
destination. While I would like to welcome Northern Powerhouse
Rail, I am slightly disappointed that whenever the Prime Minister
mentions it he does so between Leeds and Manchester, as we all
know that it begins in Hull. From now on, I would like him to
talk about it coming from Hull, and will he tell me when we will
see the benefits in my constituency?
The Prime Minister
The road to Hull is paved with good intentions, and we intend to
build it. We will make sure that we have Hull fully as part of
our vision for High Speed North, and I am sure that the hon.
Lady’s contribution will be warmly welcomed.
(Penistone and
Stocksbridge) (Con)
I thank my right hon. Friend for his announcement, and I agree
that we need both buses and trains to connect our communities.
However, can he reassure my constituents in Penistone and
Stocksbridge, which has many rural areas, that investment in
buses will benefit our rural towns and villages, not just our big
cities?
The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, which is indeed the point of
the investment in buses. Everyone knows from talking to their
constituents that a decent, reliable bus route can be absolutely
transformative of their lives and of their kids’ prospects, so we
will do that across the country.
(Hammersmith) (Lab)
With Birmingham airport 30 minutes from Old Oak we will not need
a third runway at Heathrow, I am sure the Prime Minister agrees.
However, will HS2 terminate at Old Oak for three years while
Euston is under construction, as the press are reporting and, if
so, what will he do about the disruption and overcrowding at Old
Oak? It is already the biggest development and an interchange
site, and is very happy with its historic name, by the way.
The Prime Minister
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his support for the name of Old
Oak Common. We will make sure that we take control properly of
the management of that fantastic project. There is huge potential
for success at Old Oak. Indeed, it presents a potential link
between the great west line and HS2. We will also ensure that we
take proper control of what is happening at Euston which, he
would agree, has been a shambles. We have a special purpose
vehicle established to get the maximum value for the taxpayer
from that project.
(North Dorset) (Con)
I welcome entirely the statement by my right hon. Friend. Anyone
who is interested in increasing productivity and global Britain
could not fail to do so. In response to the question that he was
asked a moment ago, would he take into account, with regard to
rural bus provision, the fact that social mobility in our rural
areas needs a boost? These buses can help to achieve that. When
taking funding decisions, will rural sparsity be taken into
account as a trigger?
The Prime Minister
Yes, of course. Rural need and rural sparsity will certainly be
taken into account, as we will take into account the needs of all
towns and communities. It is not only that these buses will help
people to get to work or wherever they need to go; they give
businesses the certainty and confidence that they can invest in
that town, in the knowledge that they can employ people who can
commute easily.
(Stretford and Urmston)
(Lab)
I welcome today’s announcements, both on rail and on buses. In
relation to buses in Greater Manchester, can we have an urgent
decision on funding for the clean freight and clean bus funds?
The Prime Minister
These will be the cleanest, greenest buses that the country has
ever seen, but we will certainly make use of the clean bus fund.
(Buckingham) (Con)
May I urge my right hon. Friend and, indeed, anyone who seeks to
celebrate the HS2 decision to keep central in their mind the
blight that it will bring to communities up and down the route,
not just on the landscape but on people’s lives? Throughout the
enabling works so far, people have been left in severe financial
hardship. Can we have an independent body with real power to
scrutinise every decision that HS2 Ltd makes?
The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend is entirely right in what he says. I speak as an
MP for a seat on the route. As in his constituency, thousands of
people have faced confusion and uncertainty about HS2, and it is
vital that they are treated properly, which is why the
construction commission will look at making sure that everyone is
treated fairly.
(Glasgow Central)
(SNP)
The Scottish environmental journalist, Rob Edwards, has warned
since 1995 about the munitions dumps by the Ministry of Defence
in Beaufort’s Dyke, the deepest point in the north channel of the
Irish sea, and the exact route of the Prime Minister’s latest
fantasy bridge? Will he abandon the project and give the money to
the Northern Irish and Scottish Governments directly so that we
can invest in priorities for Scotland and Northern Ireland,
rather than his fantasy plans?
The Prime Minister
We will bring forward proposals in due course.
(West Worcestershire) (Con)
As a west midlands MP, I warmly welcome today’s announcement, and
I thank the Prime Minister and the Transport Secretary for
working with West Midlands Mayor, . Will he confirm, as we move
towards net zero, that the extra capacity on our railways will
allow lorries carrying freight to come off our motorways?
The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend is absolutely right: that is one of the many
advantages of the proposals before the House today.
(Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab)
As a nearby west London MP, may I ask the Prime Minister over to
my patch, where HS2, Crossrail and Heathrow are already impacting
on lives, to make the much promised visit—his officials will know
that I have been promised this for years now—to see the reality
on the ground of what a super-development opportunity area looks
like for people who tend to be forgotten between historic Euston
and countryside beauty?
The Prime Minister
I have fond memories of walking the streets of the hon. Lady’s
constituency and listening to her lobby me in person; no doubt I
shall be doing so again all too soon.
(Colne Valley) (Con)
Does the Prime Minister agree with me that we now have a
wonderful opportunity to win hearts and minds on High Speed North
by getting thousands of SMEs involved in procurement and tens of
thousands of young apprentices trained up, and the Huddersfield
University Institute of Railway Research doing innovation and,
most importantly of all, fully integrating it with Northern
Powerhouse Rail, linking the northern cities and my local town of
Huddersfield?
The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend speaks eloquently and passionately for
Huddersfield, which is among the many towns and cities that will
benefit from HS2.
(Bath) (LD)
To announce 250 miles of new cycle routes as a big green
infrastructure investment is a complete joke; it will mean only a
few extra miles per local authority, and we cyclists know what
they look like. If the Prime Minister agrees that we need many
more continuous segregated cycle routes, how can he begin to
explain how 250 miles across the country will cut it?
The Prime Minister
This is just the beginning.
(Chelmsford) (Con)
I am delighted to hear that when it comes to buses and bikes we
are all going Dutch. Will my right hon. Friend make sure that
rapidly growing areas like Essex and the east of England get our
fair share of the funding?
The Prime Minister
Absolutely.
(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
To double the rate of cycling from 2% to 4% of all trips will,
according to Government figures, require £5 billion-worth of
funding at least, so how much of today’s announcement of £5
billion for buses, cycling and walking will actually be spent on
cycling?
The Prime Minister
In the first stage, £350 million.
