Transport ministers were answering questions in the Commons.
Subjects covered included...
To read any of these in greater detail, click on the link above or
see below.
Bus Services
(North West Durham) (Con)
1. What steps he is taking to improve bus services in (a) rural and
(b) other areas. [901489]
(Crewe and Nantwich) (Con)
11. What steps his Department is taking to encourage more
frequent bus services. [901500]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
Our £220 million better deal for bus users includes measures to
improve bus services in rural and urban areas. This is together
with the new £5 billion fund for overhauling bus and cycle links
throughout the country.
Mr Holden
Towns such as Crook, Willington and Burnopfield in my
constituency are starved of late evening and weekend bus
services. What plans will the Government bring forward in the
next few months to enable those areas to have better services?
As I mentioned, there is not only the £220 million fund, but the
£5 billion fund, which will enable us to bring forward a
comprehensive package of measures, which I hope will
significantly boost Durham County Council’s current £347,000
towards the bus service operators grant.
Dr Mullan
My constituents tell me that very often buses come late or do not
turn up at all. As we look to invest more in buses, what are we
going to do to make sure that the companies delivering the
services are doing a decent job for our residents?
My hon. Friend is right: it is really important to make these bus
services work in a manner where people can just rely on them and
where they do not even have to look at a timetable because the
frequency is there. As part of doing that, we will be opening up
bus open data powers, which will ensure that that information is
transferred and available to people at bus stops and in their
apps, enabling a much more frequent service to run.
Rail Fares
(Weaver Vale) (Lab)
2. What steps he is taking to reduce the cost of rail fares.
[901490]
(Coventry South)
(Lab)
5. What steps he is taking to reduce the cost of rail fares.
[901493]
(Jarrow) (Lab)
8. What steps he is taking to reduce the cost of rail fares.
[901496]
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
9. What steps he is taking to reduce the cost of rail fares.
[901497]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Fares are crucial to funding railway operations and our upgrade
programme. We have frozen regulated rail fares in line with
inflation for the seventh year running.
Given that rail fares have gone up by a massive 40% since 2010,
we now have the second most expensive railway in Europe. However,
I still have a situation where constituents in the Northwich part
of my constituency cannot get a reliable train service—in fact,
disabled passengers cannot get one on one side at all. What are
the Minister and the Government going to do about that?
The hon. Gentleman would probably like to know that 98p of every
£1 paid in fares goes back into the railways, which allows
investment in all the areas where he would like to see it,
including accessibility for his constituents.
Under the Conservatives, rail fares have rocketed by 40%. An
annual season ticket from Coventry to London is now £5,760, to
Birmingham it is £1,400 and to Nuneaton it is £1,200. That
unfairly puts rail travel beyond the reach of many of my
constituents and it discourages green travel. Privatisation has
failed, so will the Government bring our railways into public
ownership to slash fares and combat the climate emergency?
I am sure the hon. Lady will look forward, as I do, to the
issuing of the Williams review, which answers some of the
questions she raised, but she should be careful what she wishes
for because, today, using a single fare—£7, I believe it is—to go
from London to Coventry, a host of Conservative Members are going
to campaign in her hyper-marginal seat, at very good value for
money.
Trade unions represent the hard-working staff on Northern who
have had to take the brunt of passenger frustrations as the
franchise has collapsed under Arriva Rail North. Will the
Minister explain why, with Northern having been taken back into
public ownership, the expert advisory panel established to guide
the new service through its first 100 days excludes rail unions,
the experience and expertise of which could ensure that
passengers in the north finally get the rail service that they
need and deserve?
It is a fair question. The answer is that Richard George, the
head of the operator of last resort, is working closely with the
unions and will continue to do so, because the workforce is all
important to the delivery of a reliable service for passengers.
Mr Morgan
Many Portsmouth people rely heavily on South Western Railway for
their daily commute. The service that they receive is
substandard, with less than 50% of mainline services operating on
time, while rail fares have soared by 2.7%. Put simply,
Portsmouth people are paying more but getting less. Will the
Minister confirm what steps his Department is taking to address
this injustice for my community?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his correspondence and the way
that he has engaged with my Department over this issue. He has
been representing his constituents on this matter very well. As
he knows, a request for a proposal has been issued to the
south-west franchise owners, FirstGroup and MTR, and to the
operator of last resort. Parliament will be kept informed of
those developments. It is all about trying to improve the service
for the hon. Gentleman’s constituents.
(Reading East) (Lab)
As we have heard, rail passengers throughout the country are
struggling with the exorbitant cost of train travel, with fares
having risen by a staggering 40% since the Conservatives took
office. In stark contrast, Germany has recently cut rail fares,
and in Luxembourg public transport has been made entirely free,
thereby both supporting families and helping to tackle the
climate crisis. The Government used yesterday’s Budget to
prioritise once again unsustainable and expensive new roads ahead
of support for public transport. When will the Government finally
treat this issue seriously and take the urgent action that is
needed?
I completely get where the hon. Gentleman is coming from, but he
should understand that taxpayers already subsidise the rail
network by more than £4 billion a year, meaning that 54% of our
transport budget is spent on the 2% of journeys that the railways
account for. He mentions Germany, which has cut rail fares, but
to do that Germany cut the VAT on rail fares from 19% to 7%; he
might like to know that we charge no VAT on rail fares in this
country.
(Ruislip, Northwood
and Pinner) (Con)
Question 18, Mr Speaker. [Interruption.] Will my hon. Friend give
an indication of his estimate for completing the new airports
national policy statement? Will there be sufficient time to take
into account—
Mr Speaker
Order. It has to be linked to the question that you were standing
for. Do not worry; we will come back later.
Karl MᶜCartney (Lincoln) (Con)
I note that the questions that my honourable and hairy friend has
answered so far were about reducing the cost of rail fares, but
that implies that either more people must make more journeys by
rail, or taxpayers generally, such as those in Lincoln, must
subsidise the rail industry more. Which would my hon. Friend
prefer? Does he have any plans to improve the franchise process
to make bidding for them more attractive to businesses?
We are going to change the franchise model—the Williams review is
absolutely going to change how our franchise model operates—but
my hon. Friend will have to wait a bit longer to see how that is
going to happen. We have strong views on the direction of travel
and look forward to informing the House shortly.
(High Peak) (Con)
It is important to have affordable rail fares so that residents
can access our railways, but many of my constituents do not have
any access to trains at all because they do not have a local
train station. The people of Gamesley were promised a railway
station more than 50 years ago, but it has still not been
delivered. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the bid for
Gamesley train station?
My hon. Friend wisely highlights a proposal that will be
considered among the bids for the Restoring Your Railway fund. I
would be delighted to meet him to talk about it.
(Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale
and Tweeddale) (Con)
The Secretary of State is already aware of how unhappy my
constituents who use Lockerbie station are—after fare increases,
they have seen an appalling level of service from TransPennine.
TransPennine has now made certain commitments to improve the
service; what can the Department do to ensure that it meets those
commitments?
The Secretary of State and I met the TransPennine leadership not
so long ago to put the very points that my right hon. Friend has
just made. As he knows, there has been quite a big change at the
head of that franchise. We are working with the new management to
ensure that the new trains operate correctly and that the service
his constituents would like is actually delivered for them.
(East Worthing and Shoreham)
(Con)
While rail fares remain too high, the cost of disruption to our
commuters when services go wrong, as is so often the case with
Southern, is considerable. Although Delay Repay has been helpful,
it does not reflect the true cost of taxis, hotels and loss of
work that our constituents have been suffering. Can the Minister
tell us whether the new ombudsman is going to tackle the issue
and make sure that we have a compensation scheme that accurately
reflects the costs that our commuters and constituents suffer?
It is absolutely true that there are huge numbers of delays and
cancellations on our railway on a daily basis. That completely
disrupts people going to work and kids going to school, and it
also affects students and people just socialising. Different
plans are being mooted. The Williams review will have a fuller
plan, on which I will be able to communicate with my hon. Friend.
(Nottingham South)
(Lab)
People who live and work in Nottingham need Ministers to do
something about fares, sooner rather than later. Highways
England’s partial closure of the A52 Clifton bridge is making
their car journeys unbearable, and we urgently need more people
to use trains, trams and buses to get into the city. Will the
Minister or one of his colleagues meet me and other hon. Members
representing constituencies in and around Nottingham, to discuss
how the Department and Highways England can support Nottingham
City Council and its efforts to get our city moving during this
serious disruption?
Again, the hon. Lady raises valid points on behalf of her
constituents. I or perhaps another appropriate member of the
ministerial team will be delighted to do that.
Bus Links
(North Warwickshire)
(Con)
3. What steps he is taking to improve bus links in North
Warwickshire. [901491]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The bus market outside London is deregulated, with service
provision being a matter for bus operators and local authorities.
We are, however, providing £5 billion of new funding to overhaul
buses and cycling across the country.
The reality in predominantly rural North Warwickshire is that I
can get to London quicker by train than it takes for me to travel
by bus from outside my house to my constituency office just 6
miles away. The situation makes it really difficult for people to
get to hospital appointments, to work, to school and, as I found
out last week, to Jobcentre Plus appointments. What can we do to
reinvigorate transport across North Warwickshire and Bedworth so
that my constituents can access the fantastic opportunities that
this Government are keen to deliver as part of their levelling-up
agenda?
I understand my hon. Friend’s frustration. I am pleased to say
that the Government have launched two schemes that are relevant
to North Warwickshire. The first is a call for an expression of
interest in a £20 million rural mobility fund to support
innovative solutions to transport problems in rural areas, and
the second is the allocation of £30 million to every local
authority in England to support new bus services or replace lost
services.
Covid-19: Public Transport
(Bedford) (Lab)
4. What steps he has taken to help avoid the spread of covid-19
on public transport. [901492]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
We have published health guidance for staff and the transport
sector, following carefully the Public Health England advice on
protocols. In addition, I have contacted the various ports on
several occasions.
As the Secretary of State knows, the World Health Organisation
has declared covid-19 to be a pandemic. Will he clarify what new
measures will be taken to keep passengers and transport workers
safe on public transport?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. Obviously, the issue of
covid-19 is occupying the minds of everybody in this country at
the moment. As an example, 2,500 posters—digital as well as
printed—have gone up in our railway stations. There is a very
wide programme of enhanced engagement, and we are working with
the Public Health England protocols. Yesterday I met the chief
executive and chair of Network Rail to discuss the subject. The
Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member
for Rochester and Strood (), who has responsibility
for aviation, and I have also had similar discussions with all
the aviation industry leaders.
(Blackpool North and Cleveleys) (Con)
Yesterday, we saw welcome support in the Budget for small and
medium-sized enterprises to deal with coronavirus, but ferry
companies and airlines are very much at the forefront of that
challenge. What financial support and liquidity are available to
these companies? Will the Secretary of State update the House on
what progress he has made on reforming slot allocation, and will
he meet me and sector representatives to discuss the adequacy of
the Government’s support so far?
My hon. Friend was absolutely right last week to raise the issue
of the so-called ghost flights; I think he was the first person
to raise the matter in this House. I have since written both to
the slots allocator in this country, Airport Coordination
Limited, and to the European Commission, which has indicated that
it will alleviate those slots to stop empty flights flying. My
hon. Friend is also right about the pressure that the airlines
are under, and we are doing further work with the Civil Aviation
Authority and the EU, particularly over EU regulation 261. I
would be very happy to meet him to discuss the matter.
Bus Patronage
(Stockton North) (Lab)
6. What steps he is taking to increase bus patronage. [901494]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Bus Services Act 2017 introduced powers for local authorities
and operators to work to grow their patronage. That is in
addition to the £5 billion national bus strategy that I just
mentioned.
Will the Secretary of State back the “Bring Back the Buses”
campaign to reconnect communities and isolated villages in my
area that have lost their services?
Yes, I will gladly back that campaign. Everyone recognises that
buses could and should be doing a lot more. I recognise that we
have lost services over a period of time. Buses are still the
chosen form of transport for 50% of travel, so it is important
that we get this right. Even going back as far as 2017, we were
passing legislation to ensure that franchises can work in
conjunction with local authorities, and those processes are going
into place. We want to see the London standard of bus service
everywhere in the country.
(Reading East) (Lab)
As we have heard, the Government like to say that they support
bus travel. However, they have cut bus funding for supported bus
services by 45% since 2010. To make matters worse, the Chancellor
has just announced 27 times more spending on new roads than on
supporting buses and local transport. Will the Secretary of State
tell the House when the Government will finally stop paying lip
service to public transport, and actually provide the investment
that bus passengers so urgently need?
I am surprised that the figure 5 with “billion” after it did not
answer the hon. Gentleman’s question. We are not just paying lip
service; we are doing it. What he does not seem to understand
about building roads is that buses run on them.
(Kettering) (Con)
Of the £250 million in direct revenue support for bus operators,
just £43 million goes to local councils outside London. We are
going to need a lot more than that if we are going to reinstate
local bus services in rural areas, aren’t we?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is where the £5
billion national bus strategy, which we will be publishing
shortly, comes in. Our aim is quite simply to get to a London
standard of service throughout the country, including in rural
areas and his constituency.
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
(Lab)
For £1.50 in London—which the Secretary of State mentioned—I can
get two buses anywhere across the capital for up to 30 miles. In
Newcastle, £1.50 will not even get me three stops up the West
Road, while if I want to go to Ashington, which is 18 miles away,
it will cost me £8. Can we have a comparative study of bus fares
in London and the north-east so that we can understand what we
need to do to make them fairer and improve bus patronage?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right. I can assure her that that is
exactly the process that we will be following in developing the
national bus strategy, and I would be more than happy to work
with her and incorporate her ideas. We can argue about the past,
but it sounds to me that we both want to see bus services that
are excellent for all our constituents, so I completely agree
with her.
(Arundel and South Downs)
(Con)
Does the Secretary of State agree that, to get more people on the
buses, we need to make them cleaner and greener? In that vein,
what is the Secretary of State doing to promote the use of
hydrogen?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We want buses that are
cleaner and greener. We want them to be the right
temperature—air-conditioned in summer, and warm in winter—with 5G
plug-in points for phones. And we want to have electric
buses—4,000 of them, with this new money. These new buses can be
electric or, indeed, hydrogen powered, like the buses being
developed by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland. We warmly welcome all
such developments. My hon. Friend can be reassured that we are
working closely with bus operators to develop new British buses.
Airport Expansion: Paris Climate Change Agreement
(Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab)
7. Whether he plans to take into account the Paris climate change
agreement in future decisions on airport expansion. [901495]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Court of Appeal judgment on the airports national policy
statement is complex, and we will set out our next steps in due
course. This Government remain supportive of airport expansion,
but we will permit it only within our environmental obligations.
Dr Huq
From “No ifs, no buts, no third runway”, to engineering a trip to
Afghanistan to skip the vote, the last three Prime Ministers have
started off very clear on Heathrow expansion and then obfuscation
and U-turns have set in. Why do not the Government take the
opportunity of the Court of Appeal ruling that expansion is
incompatible with our Paris climate accord obligations and make
this dead and buried once and for all, and also review the other
21 planned airport expansions?
As I have already outlined, the Government are, and remain,
supportive of airport expansion where we are able to deliver it
within our environmental obligations. I must point out to the
hon. Lady that the Court did not conclude that airport expansion
is incompatible with climate change. As I have already outlined,
we are reviewing this complex judgment and will lay out our next
steps soon.
(Middlesbrough) (Lab)
In the light of the Court of Appeal’s decision, the Government
were wrong to deny the relevance and application of the Paris
agreement. Do the Government now accept that their overriding
obligation is one of compliance with our Paris accord commitments
in reducing emissions, meaning that their national policy
statement on aviation has to be revisited and revised, and that
they should be saying no to climate-busting expansion at
Heathrow?
I can understand the concerns that many hon. Members may have
around the Government’s next steps. That is why we have outlined
that it is currently an ongoing legal process. We have said that
we will review the judgment, which is complex, and set out our
next steps. As I have already outlined, the Court did not judge
that the airport expansion is incompatible with climate change.
But we will obviously update the House as soon as possible on any
future steps that we will be prepared to take.
The Court of Appeal said that it was illegal.
In the midst of a climate crisis, the Chancellor announced the
biggest-ever programme of road building—a £27 billion splurge
that will increase car use, worsen congestion, and increase
climate emissions. In anticipation of legal challenges, as with
airport expansion, and before the Government go any further, can
they confirm that the roads programme has been subject to
rigorous environment impact assessments and complies with our
Paris agreement obligations?
Yes.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
The climate emergency concerns us all, and the aviation sector
faces a particularly tough challenge to decarbonise, whether or
not additional airport capacity is added in the south-east.
However, we cannot shirk that challenge, so I am proud that
Loganair, based in my constituency, is currently working to
provide passenger services using electric planes to help to
tackle our climate change targets. In Scotland, these targets
include aircraft emissions. Will this Government match that level
of transparency and honesty, and include emissions in their
targets?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for outlining his particular interest
and his understanding of the situation within Scotland. As he
will know, Sustainable Aviation has committed to delivering on
its net zero target.
As the Minister has outlined, progress has been made with new
engine technology continually setting new standards of efficiency
and reducing carbon emissions, and there is huge research and
development in the sector right now. Given that background, plus
the fact that it may cost up to 10 times more, and that it is one
of just two bodies whose regulations are followed the world over,
replacing the European Aviation Safety Agency properly may take
up to a decade, and recruiting the expertise required will be
extremely difficult. Does the Minister not realise that leaving
EASA is an act of sheer folly that is putting Brexit politics
before passenger safety?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. He will know—I
believe he spoke about it last week—that we will potentially see
the first electric flight this year. We have invested £300
million in the future flight challenge fund. We are committed to
working with everyone across the industry to ensure that we have
the technology and the skills and can deliver on our target.
Electric Vehicles: Charging Infrastructure
(Windsor) (Con)
10. What steps his Department is taking to support the roll-out
of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. [901499]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
As the Chancellor announced yesterday, the Government are
providing an additional £500 million over the next five years to
support the roll-out of a fast charging network for electric
vehicles, ensuring that drivers will never be further than 30
miles from a rapid charging station.
I thank the Minister for that answer. I commend the Government on
the progress that has been made on charging infrastructure over
the last decade, from dozens to hundreds and now thousands of
charging points; that challenge is being well met. My concern is
that, even with the current grants, the purchase price of
electric vehicles is still out of reach for most people on lower
incomes. Does she agree that, if we are to see more electric
vehicle use in the years to come, the purchase price of electric
vehicles is equally as important as the availability of charging
infrastructure?
I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks about the Government’s
support. It is right that the Government are committed to
supporting the up-front cost of an electric vehicle. That is why
I am pleased that, at yesterday’s Budget, a further £532 million
of funding was announced to keep the plug-in vehicle grant for
another three years. He will know that those with fully electric
cars will pay no company car tax this year, and vehicle excise
duty for all electric vehicles in all price brackets has been
abolished.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
The extension of the plug-in taxi grant until 2022-23 is welcome.
That works for bespoke vehicles, but what about cities such as
Cambridge, where the city council rightly expects higher
standards, but for hard-pressed drivers, the cost of the vehicles
is prohibitive, as the hon. Member for Windsor () said? What are the Government
doing to help them?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and for what is
happening in Cambridge. He will know that a range of support is
available for all vehicles, including taxis that want to upgrade
to electric vehicles, and the Government are committed to
continuing the funding for those grants.
(Wellingborough) (Con)
I wonder whether the Minister could help me with the next vehicle
I should buy. I used to drive a petrol car, then Dave persuaded
us all to go green, so I bought a biofuel car, which was
destroying the planet, so they said, “Buy a diesel car because it
emits less CO2,” so I bought a diesel car, and now I am poisoning
people. An electric vehicle might be the solution, though it
might be terrible because of the batteries, but I live in a flat
both here in Westminster and in my constituency, so an electric
car is not the answer. Is it a diesel car with AdBlue? Help me!
I am delighted to assist my hon. Friend. I encourage him to think
about purchasing an electric vehicle. The answer is to ensure
that there are charging points at his block of flats and across
the country. In fact, the Government have doubled the funding
available to local authorities to install charging points for
electric vehicles on-street, to £10 million. I am sure that that
will assist him.
Mr Speaker
Or he could get roller-skates!
Road Network National Policy Statements: Climate Change
Commitments
(Eltham) (Lab)
13. Whether he plans to make road network national policy
statements compatible with the UK’s commitments on climate
change. [901503]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
We take our commitment to climate targets seriously. We have one
of the world’s most ambitious plans for reducing carbon emissions
from our roads, and our infrastructure policy is entirely
consistent with that.
Does not the decision on Heathrow demonstrate that the Government
need to upgrade their statements in the light of climate change,
otherwise there is a danger that their massive expansion of road
building will get bogged down in legal challenges?
As the hon. Gentleman will know, the Court of Appeal judgment on
Heathrow is a very complex issue. Our road policy contains many
elements, including a plan for decarbonisation, funding to
improve public transport and plans for road improvements. That
balanced package is entirely consistent with reaching net zero,
which is what the Government are committed to doing.
Noise: Heathrow Airport Flight Paths
(Greenwich and Woolwich)
(Lab)
14. What plans he has to reduce the number of people affected by
aircraft noise living (a) near and (b) under Heathrow airport
flight paths. [901504]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Government’s airspace modernisation programme should allow
aircraft to climb more quickly and descend continuously, which
will have a noticeable noise reduction benefit for communities
overflown by Heathrow flights.
I thank the Minister for that answer. She will know that 70% of
the aircraft that arrive at Heathrow do so via what is known as
westerly operations, involving a final approach over my
constituency and others in south London. Given the concerns about
noise on the part of those living under these flight paths, can
the Minister tell the House whether the Bill on modernising our
airspace that the Government have committed to will include
provisions aimed at reducing the concentration of flight paths
and mandating measures to reduce arrival noise?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and I understand his
concerns. Airspace modernisation is intended to reduce the amount
of noise per flight for those living under concentrated flight
paths. However, there is a risk that they may experience more
noise than currently. Whether this is the case will depend on the
final routes proposed by airports, including any respite routes,
and on the outcomes of consultation with local people, and I
expect he will be very vocal at that time.
Rail Services: North of England
(Heywood and
Middleton) (Con)
15. What steps his Department is taking to improve rail services
in the north of England. [901505]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
We are working with Network Rail, operators and stakeholders to
raise performance, and we are investing billions of pounds to
improve services for passengers.
I thank the Minister for that answer. Does he agree with me that,
in addition to national rail projects, light rail projects such
as extending the Metrolink to Middleton and Heywood in my
constituency form a vital part of levelling up and increasing
capacity?
Under this Government, the Metrolink has been extended to reach
new destinations right across Greater Manchester. The most recent
extension to the Trafford centre is due to open later this month.
While the development of light rail proposals is a matter for the
Mayoral combined authority, we will work closely with them. I
hope to see the Metrolink extended to my hon. Friend’s
constituency. As the Chancellor said yesterday, we are getting
investment done.
European Aviation Safety Agency Membership
(Orkney and Shetland) (LD)
16. What his policy is on the UK’s membership of the European
Aviation Safety Agency after the end of the transition period.
[901506]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The UK will leave EASA at the end of the transition period.
Mr Carmichael
The Secretary of State will be aware that that news has not been
well received by the aviation industry. The ADS, which represents
over 1,100 UK companies, has noted that the UK and the EU could
have an arrangement, in the same way that Switzerland does,
giving us full membership of EASA without even having any
jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Why would that be
a problem for the Government?
Because the EU said in its statement of negotiating parameters on
15 January that UK participation in EASA is not viable from its
perspective. It would not be viable from a UK perspective either,
because we would be subject to ECJ rulings in one form or
another, and certainly, without any doubt, we would have to
accept the European Commission creating the laws under which we
would exist— and this country voted for Brexit. However, we will
have a bilateral aviation safety agreement—a so-called BASA. We
will also have a comprehensive air transport agreement—a
so-called CATA—to enable smooth transport to continue.
(Kingston upon Hull East)
(Lab)
The aviation industry is in crisis and 84,000 UK jobs are
potentially under threat, yet the Government plan to withdraw
from EASA, despite the warnings from the industry and despite its
costing 10 times as much money. Will the Transport Secretary put
a stop to this reckless plan, stop this needless waste of public
money and protect Britain’s impressive and world-leading role in
aviation safety?
The hon. Gentleman is right that the UK has the third largest
aviation network, but the idea that we are there because of EASA
is untrue. The reality is that we already have the expertise in
this country. It is the Civil Aviation Authority that administers
the entire system, so there is no particular role that we cannot
step up and fill. In case the hon. Gentleman had not noticed,
this country voted to leave Europe. I know the Labour party has
struggled to understand this fundamental point about when we vote
to do something, but people voted for it in a referendum and they
voted for it again in a general election, and we are leaving.
M66: Safety
(Bury North) (Con)
17. What steps he is taking to improve safety on the M66.
[901507]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Highways England has a programme of works under way, north of
junction 2 of the M66, to resurface and renew road markings and
studs. Once completed, those works will deliver safety benefits
for all road users.
In 2011, lighting on the M66 between junctions 1 and 3 was
decommissioned. Many of my Bury North constituents have contacted
me, expressing their concerns that that has created unsafe
driving conditions, especially during heavy rainfall. Will my
hon. Friend agree to meet me, and a number of local residents, to
discuss those concerns, and investigate what actions can be taken
to address them?
I appreciate the concerns of my hon. Friend’s constituents about
motorway driving without lighting. Highways England is working
closely on that topic, and monitoring the safety situation on
that section of the M66. Baroness Vere, the Minister responsible
for roads—she is in the Gallery—will be happy to meet my hon.
Friend to discuss the matter further.
Airports National Policy Statement Review
(Ruislip, Northwood
and Pinner) (Con)
18. Whether he has made an estimate of the time it will take to
review the Airports National Policy Statement. [R] [901508]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The judgment by the Court of Appeal was complex, and the
Government need time to consider it carefully. My right hon.
Friend the Secretary of State issued a written statement on 27
February.
I apologise for my earlier mistiming, Mr Speaker.
Does my hon. Friend agree that, as well as digesting what I agree
are the complex implications of that judgment, she could take
this opportunity to consider the report by the New Economic
Foundation, entitled “Baggage Claim”? That report debunks many of
the received wisdoms about the value to the UK economy of
Heathrow expansion, and sets out in detail the economic
opportunities created by regional expansion, especially in terms
of levelling-up, which is a clear commitment of this Government.
As my hon. Friend has outlined, just as I have a number of times
today, the Court of Appeal judgment is complex. We are
considering it, and we will set out our next steps in due course.
On regional connectivity, we are committed to delivering airport
expansion that is in line with our environmental obligations. We
are also committed to levelling up, and ensuring that people are
able to travel, whichever part of the country they live in, and
that obviously relates to local and regional airports.
Rail Franchising System: Viability
(Liverpool, Riverside)
(Lab)
19. What recent assessment he has made of the viability of the
rail franchising system. [901509]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Keith Williams has been tasked by the Government with leading a
root and branch review into the rail industry, and he has
confirmed that he will recommend scrapping the current
franchising system. Full details will be set out in the White
Paper which, all being well, will be published before summer.
I thank the Minister for his comments. Passengers in my
constituency and across northern England welcomed the decision to
bring Northern Rail into public ownership on 1 March, following
the collapse of Arriva Rail North. In the past decade, more than
£178 million has been paid in dividends to Northern Rail
shareholders, while simultaneously, there have been cuts to
safety-critical staff on trains and stations. Research has shown
that if our railway was in public ownership, we would save £1
billion a year—enough to fund an 18% cut in rail fares. Will the
Minister assure Members that Northern Rail will be kept in public
ownership, to rebuild the trust and confidence of rail users, and
that it will not be privatised at the earliest opportunity?
First, may I push back on the hon. Lady’s point about safety,
which is completely incorrect? That issue is regulated by an
independent body, and she is wrong. Since privatisation, we have
seen the number of passenger journeys more than double, as well
as more services and better trains. Northern Rail’s fleet is now
being replaced with new trains, and that will be finished by the
end of May. I very much hope that the new system will include a
profuse and large group of private companies that want to run
services for us.
(Cleethorpes) (Con)
Problems with the franchising system mean that London North
Eastern Railway is now under control of the Minister’s
Department. He will be aware of my long-running campaign to get
through trains from King’s Cross to Cleethorpes. Can he tell me
when that will happen?
I cannot answer my hon. Friend from the Dispatch Box today, but
we are working to deliver the service that he has outlined,
certainly at the beginning and end of each day to start with.
Bus Accident Data Collection
(Warwick and Leamington)
(Lab)
20. If he will bring forward legislative proposals for the
mandatory collection of bus accident data by bus companies for
publication by local authorities. [901510]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
It is up to individual local transport authorities to determine
which powers in the Bus Services Act 2017 are used to address
issues of bus safety. Under a partnership or franchising scheme,
bus operators could be required to provide bus safety data at
specified intervals.
While in London this data is collected, in all other areas of the
country it is not. It is public transport we are talking about
and the public should be made aware, or be allowed to be made
aware, of this key data on the number of accidents and the causes
of those accidents. Will the Minister agree to meet me and
members of the family of Rowan Fitzgerald, who sadly died in 2015
in an unnecessary accident, to discuss the proposals in Rowan’s
law?
I know the hon. Gentleman has met a number of bus Ministers to
discuss the fatal accident in Coventry in 2015. I offer my
deepest condolences for this terrible tragedy. Collection of data
could be considered within the national bus strategy. I, or one
of my colleagues, would be happy to meet him to discuss that
further.
Topical Questions
(Sefton Central) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities. [901514]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to say a few words
about an issue that I know a lot of Members have been concerned
about: smart motorways. I announced last year that the Department
would carry out an evidence stock-take to gather the facts about
the safety or otherwise of smart motorways and make
recommendations. I have listened to friends and families
affected, and I have looked hard at the evidence. Today, I am
publishing a report into the findings. Alongside that report, I
am launching an 18-point action plan to raise the bar on smart
motorway safety. Overall, the evidence shows that in most ways
smart motorways are as safe or safer than conventional ones, but
they are not in every way. I have therefore developed new
measures to further improve safety.
I pay tribute to Edmund King of the Automobile Association and
the families of those who have lost loved ones, including Meera
Naran who is here today watching our proceedings. I also want to
thank other campaigners, in particular my right hon. Friend the
Member for Hemel Hempstead ( ), the hon. Member for
Rotherham (), and my hon. Friends the
Members for Chatham and Aylesford () and for Harborough
(). Their work to help to
ensure our motorways are as safe as they can possibly be is, I
think, something the whole House will welcome. I have laid copies
of the report in the Library and a written statement will be laid
later today.
I thank the Secretary of State for those comments on smart
motorways. The new plan for a northern powerhouse between
Manchester and Leeds has been announced every year since 2014.
Why would anybody think it will be any different this year? If
Northern Powerhouse Rail is to be a success, it has to go right
across the north, so why is there is nothing about the Liverpool
to Manchester part of the route, which is the easiest part to
deliver? As the Prime Minister was fond of saying during the
election, it is oven ready.
I share the hon. Gentleman’s frustration. I have a consultation
virtually ready to go. I am working with Transport for the North
to get that signed off across various different parties up there.
I will be expressing the hon. Member’s concern to them to get on
with that. I agree that Manchester to Leeds is part of it, but
getting on with the bit to Liverpool, out to Hull and all the
rest is also important.
(Clacton) (Con)
T2. Greater Anglia, which runs the trains round our way, is
currently introducing a £1.4 billion fleet of brand new
trains—very good. Among other benefits, that will support the
local economy and tackle social exclusion. However, the great
eastern main line needs to be upgraded quickly. What steps is the
Department taking to ensure that key upgrades, such as the Bow
junction remodelling, extra loops between Chelmsford and
Colchester, and the provision of digital signalling, are
delivered within the next five to 10 years? [901515]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The new Greater Anglia train fleet will certainly deliver many
benefits, including extra passenger capacity on the great eastern
main line. I am particularly interested, too, in seeing the
results of the great eastern main line taskforce study work on
the upgrades my hon. Friend mentions, and the renewal of the
strategic outline business case and wider economic benefit
studies so we can move forward.
(Kingston upon Hull East)
(Lab)
More than 12 months has passed since the Government announced a
consultation on banning old tyres from public service vehicles.
The Tyred campaign and tens of thousands of supporters have
waited far too long. I pay tribute to Frances Molloy and my hon.
Friend the Member for Garston and Halewood () for the work they have done.
The Secretary of State has the power to act now before more
innocent people are needlessly killed. Is it not time for the
Government to get this done?
As with the smart motorway point that I made a few moments ago,
the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the need to get this
right, and it has been the subject of several coroners’ reports.
He will not have to wait very long and I do not think he will be
disappointed.
(North West Durham)
(Con)
T3. The A68 runs from the town of Darlington all the way up to
Edinburgh and through five constituencies in the north of
England, including mine. Given that 30% of its use is from heavy
goods vehicles, will the Secretary of State consider Transport
for the North’s recommendation that it becomes part of the
strategic road network? [901516]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
My hon. Friend mentioned that briefly to me already, so I know
that it is on his radar. It is important that all our roads are
managed by the appropriate authority in the interests of road
users and local communities, and I would be quite happy to meet
my hon. Friend and the roads Minister.
(Ellesmere Port and Neston)
(Lab)
T8. A recent survey of social media found that the M56 was the
most complained about motorway in the whole country. Junctions 12
to 14 are a complete bottleneck, causing regular accidents and
frustration for local people, so I hope that the Minister will be
able to confirm that among the many announcements yesterday,
those junctions on the M56 will also get some investment.
[901521]
We are very keen, unlike the hon. Gentleman’s Front-Bench team,
to sort out the problems on our major roads. I would be more than
happy to meet him or for another Minister to do so.
(Congleton) (Con)
T4. At a recent community event in Middlewich organised by
Redeeming Our Communities, one of the loudest calls from young
people was for improved bus services in the town. What support
can the Government give to help to facilitate that? [901517]
My hon. Friend will know that we are providing £5 billion in new
funding to overhaul buses and cycling nationwide to benefit all
passengers of all ages. The national bus strategy will set out
further details.
(Lancaster and Fleetwood)
(Lab)
T9. Yesterday’s Budget provided no further clarity on the £350
million for cycling that the Prime Minister mentioned on 11
February. As a consequence, from the start of next month, local
authorities outside London have nothing earmarked for their local
cycling and walking infrastructure plans. Will the Minister
explain why cyclists were forgotten in yesterday’s Budget?
[901522]
The hon. Lady will recall that when it was announced that we
would go ahead with HS2, a £5 billion fund for buses and cycling
was also announced. Cycling will get a very good chunk of that
money and that will be outlined in the forthcoming spending
review, but I absolutely understand the point that she has made.
We are working to ensure that the gap that there could be in
funding is resolved.
(Hazel Grove) (Con)
T5. A short-sighted decision by Transport for Greater Manchester
and Stagecoach to scrap the 375 bus service, serving my
constituents in Mellor and Hawk Green, has been met with dismay.
Will my hon. Friend, the excellent Minister, meet me urgently so
that we can maintain this important service and keep the wheels
on the 375 bus going round and round? [901518]
My hon. Friend will know that decisions are made locally for
Transport for Greater Manchester, and Greater Manchester already
receives just under £3 million each year to support local bus
services. The Government have also committed to £5 billion more
for buses, which I hope is a cause for optimism for him, but as
he knows, I will always be happy to meet him to discuss any
particular issues.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (SNP)
Fairground operators make a significant economic contribution to
my constituency and use red diesel for their power-generating
equipment. Members of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain have
contacted me to say that the Chancellor’s planned increase in
fuel duty on red diesel will put them out of business altogether,
and they are not in line for an exemption. Will the Minister make
representations to her colleagues in the Treasury to exempt the
fairground industry from the planned increase to protect the
livelihoods of this unique and vibrant community?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
Red diesel has traditionally enjoyed a significant subsidy,
which, as the hon. Member rightly points out, was constrained by
yesterday’s Budget. The Government are working across the board,
with many sectors, including farmers and fishermen, and the
consultation will be open to reflecting exactly the concerns she
raises about fairground operators and others. I would encourage
her to engage in that consultation.
(Stafford) (Con)
T6. I was pleased to hear the Chancellor announce a new £500
million a year pothole-filling programme in yesterday’s Budget.
Will the Secretary of State commit to ensuring that this funding
is targeted and gets to local authorities as quickly as possible,
and will he confirm that the Government will work to improve the
conditions of roads in Stafford? [901519]
I am sure my hon. Friend was pleased by the £500 million a
year—£2.5 billion in total, which is more than the £2 billion
promised in our manifesto—to help fill potholes, and I look
forward to working with her and other colleagues to ensure their
potholes are filled as soon as possible.
(Gateshead) (Lab)
At a recent meeting, London North Eastern Railway shared with me
its ambition to introduce an extra train per hour between
Newcastle and King’s Cross, but owing to a lack of capacity on
the east coast main line, this can only be achieved by curtailing
other providers’ services at York, meaning that fewer trains, if
any, will run between Edinburgh, Tyneside, Tees Valley, south and
west Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. How soon can
we expect the levelling-up investment on the east coast main line
north of York necessary to fulfil all these competing ambitions?
I am fully aware of the issue that the hon. Gentleman—no, right
hon. Gentleman?
indicated dissent.
One day. Alas, I cannot promote him to that position.
I am fully aware of the problem the hon. Gentleman has just
outlined, and we are working with the franchise and throughout
the industry to resolve it. As he knows, investment in rail takes
a long time to come through the system, but I promise we are
looking at this.
(Totnes) (Con)
T7. I welcome the Government’s decision yesterday on the A303.
The potential to unlock the south-west has just been announced,
and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition. I also
congratulate the Government on their 2050 maritime strategy. Will
the Minister meet me to discuss how we can uplift the potential
in our coastal communities and make sure their local economies
are not at sea? [901520]
Like my hon. Friend, I represent a coastal constituency. The
south-west has great strengths in maritime autonomy and
renewables and clean maritime innovation. We look forward to
working with the recently formed Maritime UK South West to create
an environment where these objectives can be realised nationally
and in the south-west. I would be more than happy to work with
him as we progress some of these ideas.
(Hammersmith) (Lab)
The Government’s airports policy has been struck down by the
Appeal Court, and the Government have decided not to appeal that
decision. Does the Minister accept that the Government cannot be
a bystander on this and leave this for a decision between the
courts and Heathrow’s management, who have no interest other than
their own financial interests?
We have been clear that the court case is complex and we will set
out our next steps. We have always been clear that any expansion
would be done via the private sector. It is for the promoters of
the scheme to take that forward, and as I have already outlined
this morning, there is an ongoing legal case.
(Dewsbury) (Con)
In my constituency, we have major issues with disabled facilities
at Dewsbury railway station, where there is no tactile paving for
the blind and partially sighted, and at Shepley and Mirfield
railway stations, where there is a lack of wheelchair access.
What assurance can the railways Minister give to my constituents
that these problems will be tackled in the near future?
As my hon. Friend knows, the Government recently made £350
million available to add another 209 stations to the Access for
All programme. The stations he mentioned were not successful in
that round of money, but I would be delighted to meet and work
with him to ensure that those stations get the funding they
deserve, because our rail network needs to be accessible for
everybody.
(Coventry North
East) (Lab)
The Coventry and Warwickshire branch of the National Federation
of the Blind says that people with visual impairments are missing
their destinations or cannot find timetable information as bus
stops and buses are not enabled with audiovisual announcements.
Can the Minister tell me what steps the Government are taking to
make talking bus stops and buses a reality for visually impaired
passengers?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right, and this is something we are
really passionate about. My hon. Friend the Minister in the Lords
recently made an announcement on talking buses. In addition, just
a couple of weeks ago I launched a new Access for All campaign
for stations in London to extend it right across our network.
There are so many things that we can do to make our rather
antiquated, old-fashioned railways and transport systems much
more access-friendly.
(Bexhill and Battle) (Con)
May I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s decision, in
principle at least, that something needs to be done about the
rules of pavement parking outside of London? Will he join me in
urging people to commit to the consultation and, if there is a
case for change, ensure time in this place to deliver it for
vulnerable people in this country?
May I pay tribute to the Chair of the Select Committee on
Transport, and indeed the former Chair, for promoting this
subject so much? We are pleased to respond today to “Pavement
parking” and will certainly wish to join him in taking forward
those steps, exactly as he has described.
(Bristol West) (Lab)
Will the Secretary of State commit today to making sure that
every single decision taken in his Department is assessed for
whether it contributes to or mitigates against climate change?
Yes, that is absolutely the case. We are committed to 2050 and
will soon be producing a decarbonisation plan, which will do
precisely what the hon. Lady is after.
(Waveney) (Con)
The development consent order decision for the Lowestoft third
crossing should have been made by 6 December. More than three
months on, I would be grateful if my right hon. Friend the
Secretary of State advised as to when a decision will be
announced. Does he agree that if the UK is to build the
infrastructure that the Chancellor outlined yesterday, we need a
timely and efficient legal process for making such decisions?
I understand my hon. Friend’s frustrations with the delay. We
will be issuing a written ministerial statement setting out a new
date for the decision as soon as practically possible, but as it
is a live planning application, I unfortunately cannot comment
further on the scheme. However, as he knows, we of course want to
ensure that all applications are dealt with in a timely way, and
our Department will work to ensure that.
