Transport Ministers were answering questions in the Commons.
Subjects covered included...
To read any of these in greater detail, either click on the link
above or see below
Covid-19: Economic Recovery
(Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on the Government’s plans to support economic recovery
from the covid-19 outbreak. [904120]
(Ayr,
Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP)
What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on the Government’s plans to support economic recovery
from the covid-19 outbreak. [904126]
(Glasgow North) (SNP)
What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on the Government’s plans to support economic recovery
from the covid-19 outbreak. [904151]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
I have frequent conversations with the Chancellor about the vital
role that transport plays in our economic recovery.
Yesterday, I met the Argyll and Bute climate change group, which
is dismayed by the recent report showing that the UK Government
have missed almost all their own climate change targets. Given
that transport accounts for about a quarter of UK carbon
emissions and that there are growing calls to link the economic
recovery to meeting emissions targets, does the Secretary of
State agree that only by enshrining annual targets in legislation
will this Government be able to hope to meet their legally
binding net zero emissions target by 2050?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, but I take issue
with his numbers: I think that transport accounts for about a
third of greenhouse gases, rather than just a quarter, so he is
right about the urgency of the situation. We absolutely believe
in tackling this problem. That is why this country has legislated
to be zero-carbon by 2050. When it comes to transport, he will be
interested to hear that I am setting up the net zero board to
push forward with all these important targets.
The Secretary of State will be aware that British Airways
continues along its Dickensian path of threatening to fire staff
and rehire them on substantially poorer pay and conditions, which
affects many of my constituents in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock. Does
he accept that the conduct of British Airways executives such as
Willie Walsh is bringing the industry into disrepute at a time
when support for public transport is critical if we want an
aviation industry in the future?
I am very concerned about the plight of aviation employees not
just at British Airways but at other companies. I urge British
Airways and the unions to sit down to talk this through, which I
know is not happening—the British Airline Pilots Association has
done that, but the other unions have not. Important support has
been in place through the furlough scheme, and I want to ensure
that people are treated fairly and properly throughout this
crisis.
The constituents I met as part of The Time is Now climate lobby
on Tuesday want Government at all levels to move further and
faster to tackle the climate emergency and build back better from
the covid pandemic. Will the Secretary of State join me in
welcoming the decision in Glasgow to make the hire of nextbikes
free for the coming months, so that people can reduce emissions,
keep fit and get about in a safe and socially distant manner, and
we can learn lessons across the United Kingdom for the future?
The hon. Gentleman will be familiar, I am sure, with the £2
billion announcement I made at a Downing Street press conference
for cycling and walking, of which £250 million was made available
immediately in England. Through the Barnett consequentials, that
will allow for a massive expansion of cycling across the whole
United Kingdom.
(Bexhill and Battle) (Con)
Given the restrictions on public transport at the moment, it is
vital that we look for alternative forms of transport to boost
our economic activity. I welcome the news that e-scooters will be
rolled out. The Transport Committee began its inquiry on that
yesterday, so the timing is appreciated. There was some confusion
as to whether driving licences will be required for e-scooters,
which I believe may be due to a technicality. It would be a great
shame if e-scooters were available only to those who drive a car.
My hon. Friend is right: the e-scooters brought forward due to
the pandemic will be an excellent and eco-friendly way of getting
around—I can see that many Members across the House are looking
forward to getting on their e-scooters. They will, I am afraid,
in the first place be available to those with driving or
provisional licences. That is not through desire, but because of
a quirk in the law—we are tackling a law from, I think, 1880,
which, with great foresight, banned e-scooters long before they
were invented. That was one way to allow trials to go ahead right
now.
(Oldham West and Royton)
(Lab/Co-op)
I pay tribute to our transport workers and reflect on those who
have lost their lives to the coronavirus. Our economy is
experiencing major shock. There is no doubt that the foundations
were weakened after a lost decade of austerity and the failure to
invest properly in our regions that make up the northern
powerhouse. Had the north seen the same per-person investment as
London over the past decade, it would have received £66 billion
more. Even before the pandemic hit, estimates by the UK2070
Commission recommended investment of £15 billion each year for 20
years. Will the Secretary of State outline how much capital
investment has been awarded to the north?
As the hon. Gentleman will know, I am the northern powerhouse
Minister in the Cabinet, so I take this very seriously indeed. I
do not want to disappoint him, but there are so many different
elements of funding going into the northern powerhouse right now
that it is difficult to provide an immediate figure for the
total. I would be happy to undertake to write to him with those
precise details, but I can tell them that it is billions.
I am not sure that my pre-prepared response quite expected the
Secretary of State not to know the answer to the question about
how much money has been allocated, but we can guess: it is a drop
in the ocean. It will be a drop in the ocean when compared with
the historic funding gap of £66 billion. It will be a drop in the
ocean when compared with the £15 billion annual allocation, as
recommended by the Commission.
We were promised a plan to level up Britain. We were told that we
were at war with the virus, yet when it came to a Marshall fund,
the nation was failed. The Government failed on ambition; they
failed on scale; and in doing so they failed the hard-working
people of the north. Let us be generous and accept that what has
gone has gone. Today, will the Secretary of State commit, in
future allocations, to the north receiving no less than the
capital?
That is a lot of rhetoric, but, if the hon. Gentleman likes, I
will go into some of the money that is being spent. For example,
there is the trans-Pennine route, a multi-billion pound upgrade
of the route from Manchester to Leeds. Then we have an extra £10
million initially to sort out the Manchester corridor, which was
announced by the Prime Minister on Tuesday. There is the High
Speed North project, which runs into multi-billions. I will write
to him, and I hope that he will come back to the Dispatch Box
surprised and perhaps withdraw his words when he sees the
multi-billion pounds that are being spent in the north right now.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
Swissport, 321; Rolls-Royce, 700; Menzies Aviation, 160; and
hundreds and hundreds more between British Airways, NCP, easyJet,
Ryanair, Jet2, Flybe, BA CityFlyer, TUI and SSP. These are not
national statistics, but the aviation job losses in my
constituency alone. Might this sector finally get some good news
in the Chancellor’s statement next week? If the Secretary of
State will not comment on specific aviation companies, will he
tell us in general whether he personally thinks it fair that
employees can be fired and rehired on slashed terms and
conditions?
As I mentioned in my previous answer, I think the hon. Gentleman
is right to be concerned. We need to ensure that there is fair
play for employees. Everybody understands that it has been an
incredibly tough time. Everyone knows the furlough scheme and
many other measures—£330 billion-worth of measures—have been
there to support the sector. There has also been an individual
process that companies—whether ground handlers, airlines or
airports—have been able to go through with the Treasury to access
additional money. I would appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s help in
ensuring that air bridges can get going as quickly as possible
and be reported to the House. I am very keen to get the devolved
Administrations, including the Scottish Government, on board so
that we can get this thing announced.
Alexander Dennis is a world-leading bus manufacturer, but that
sector is also on its knees due to the coronavirus crisis. I
welcome the Prime Minister’s re-announcement on bus investment,
but it needs to be brought forward in full now. I ask the
Secretary of State not to rule out investing in low-emission Euro
6 diesel buses to replace some of the older high-polluting
models, helping to reduce carbon emissions more quickly and
saving thousands of highly skilled jobs across the industry to
boot.
Absolutely. The £3 billion, which is going into new buses, will
help us to produce 4,000 additional buses. We want them to be low
and zero-carbon electric buses, of course, but also hydrogen
buses, so we will certainly be taking that forward. I will be
saying more about that very shortly.
Covid-19: Bus Routes
(West Dorset) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support commercial bus routes that are
in service during the covid-19 outbreak. [904121]
(Christchurch) (Con)
When he next plans to meet with representatives of bus and coach
operators. [904123]
(Totnes) (Con)
What steps he is taking to protect rural bus routes. [904147]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Government are providing significant funding for the bus
industry at this time. Our covid-19 funding package for England’s
buses totals £651 million. The Government provide £43 million
annually to local authorities for supporting socially necessary
services, plus £30 million of additional funding in 2021 to
support, improve or restore services. Ministers and officials
meet regularly with key stakeholders, including local transport
authorities and operators to discuss a wide range of matters.
The Government’s public messaging to discourage the non-essential
use of buses, and of open-access trains for that matter, is
deeply damaging commercial routes that rely on public fares to
remain viable. Will the Minister commit to reviewing that message
and to safeguarding those commercial routes, such as the rural
bus routes in my constituency of West Dorset?
My hon. Friend is right. We obviously keep all measures under
review at all times, but our priority is always to keep the
public safe. Thanks to the support that the Government have put
into the bus industry, the vast majority of bus services in
England are currently running.
My hon. Friend failed to respond to the question about coach
operators, which rather indicates that, as the coach industry
feels, the Government regard them with contempt. Will she now
tell us when there is going to be a meeting, and a response to
the request first made by the coach industry more than two months
ago and repeated in a letter signed by 550 coach operators to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer? When are the Government going to do
something to help our coach industry?
I assure my hon. Friend that the Government take the concerns of
the coach industry incredibly seriously, recognising the key part
it plays in the tourism industry. That is why it has been able to
access £330 billion of Government support, along with all parts
of our economy. We are working extremely hard to get tourism up
and running, and the coach industry will benefit from that.
A number of bus routes in my local towns, including Brixham and
Dartmouth, have been cancelled or reduced in the past few weeks,
which is, obviously, a massive disservice to the residents. The
Government have announced a supreme package of support for our
bus networks, with grants and the forthcoming review. I urge them
to put a long-term strategy planning mechanism in place to allow
bus companies to plan their future for many months to come.
The Government absolutely recognise the crucial role bus services
play in rural communities, such as those in my hon. Friend’s
constituency, up and down the country. That is why we are
providing a five-year, £5 billion funding package for buses and
cycling. That will include a £20 million demand-responsive
transport scheme. We are also bringing forward a national bus
strategy to address exactly these concerns about rural services,
which play a vital role.
(Reading East) (Lab)
I wish to start by paying tribute to our bus workers for keeping
a vital public service running, in rural areas and across the
country, during the coronavirus crisis. Bus drivers and other
transport workers have made a very significant
contribution—indeed, a number of drivers have died in the
epidemic. We owe all these key workers a huge debt of gratitude
for their service at this difficult time. As a sign of the
Government’s support for our bus services, will the Minister now
commit to properly funding buses, both in the next few months and
in the longer term? Will she also offer financial support to the
families of the staff who have died, to bring this in line with
financial support for NHS and care workers?
I join the hon. Gentleman in the comments he has made, and
Conservative Members, too, pay our tribute to those key
workers—those bus workers—who have played a vital part in keeping
goods, services and passengers moving around the country. We want
to thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their service. We
work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to
ensure that they are kept safe throughout the pandemic. As bus
services start to recover, we are working closely on a bus
recovery and restart package, as well as the £5 billion we have
pledged to put in to keep bus services on a sustainable footing
for the long term.
Direct Rail Services
(Gainsborough) (Con)
If he will introduce a direct service between Cleethorpes and
London through Market Rasen. [904122]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
I recognise and pay tribute to my right hon. Friend’s campaign.
He has raised this issue with me on a number of occasions. London
North Eastern Railway and Network Rail continue to assess how the
service could operate.
I apologise to the Minister for banging on about this, and so do
my hon. Friends the Members for Cleethorpes () and for Great Grimsby
(), but we are talking about a
catchment area of 100,000 people with no direct train to London.
LNER, which we own, is prepared to give us our direct train for
just £1 million, which compares with the £80 billion-plus we are
spending on HS2. So we beg the Minister to do this for
Lincolnshire, and we promise that if he gives us our train, we
will make him an honorary yellowbelly.
That would indeed be a great honour. Before a final decision can
be taken, we need to review a business case from LNER. Sadly,
some of the surveys have been delayed because of coronavirus, but
they will be taking place later this summer. I am happy to commit
to writing to my right hon. Friend setting out the schedule for
that work, and to keeping him and his colleagues updated.
Active Travel
(Putney) (Lab)
What support the Government are providing to local authorities to
promote active travel. [904124]
(Barrow and Furness) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to increase levels of cycling
and walking. [904129]
(Bury North) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to increase levels of cycling
and walking. [904135]
(Brighton, Kemptown)
(Lab/Co-op)
What support the Government are providing to local authorities to
promote active travel. [904136]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government have provided £250 million of funding to local
authorities this financial year to increase levels of active
transport.
Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating teachers,
parents and volunteers who are opening school streets such as
that for Albermarle Primary School in Putney, which are making
streets cleaner, safer, greener and more cycle-friendly? On
cycling, when will the Government publish their updated cycle
infrastructure guidance for local authorities and the much
promised cycling and walking plan or investment strategy, and
will it be before recess?
I congratulate the initiative on the roads, which is fantastic.
My hon. Friend will know that I have announced £2 billion, and
nearly £50 million of that has been made available to local
authorities straightaway. I can also inform the House that a
further tranche of money will be made available over the summer
as well, along with the plans that she refers to.
I thank my right hon. Friend for his commitment to cycling and
his investment in it. In my constituency of Barrow, we have the
opportunity now to create a safe cycle route from Walney Island
all the way up the A590 to Ulverston across some abandoned
railway bridges. Making that work means getting Network Rail,
Highways England and our county council to pull together. What
advice and support can he give me to make that happen?
It sounds like a terrific scheme, and my advice to my hon. Friend
is to have the local authority work with all those other bodies,
including Network Rail, Highways England and the county council.
I will join him in pushing from my end to ensure that can happen.
Bury Council has outlined plans for 70 new or upgraded crossings
and five miles of protected cycle routes on busy roads, which if
completed, would allow 88% of the population to use the Greater
Manchester Bee Network. Implementation of those plans, however,
has stalled, despite funding being in place. Will the Secretary
of State meet me to ensure Bury North residents have the benefit
of those improvements at the earliest opportunity?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The Manchester Bee Network is
extremely important. I can inform him that the Greater Manchester
Combined Authority has already had £3.174 million to assist in
projects such as this and, of course, either myself or the
Minister with responsibility for cycling will be absolutely
delighted to meet him.
I thank the Department for the support it has given Brighton and
Hove Council to move forward on some of its street schemes, but
the developing lungs of children are the most vulnerable, so air
quality around schools is important as is, of course, the fitness
that we want to encourage in children. As we have heard, London
has already started taking action on school street schemes, so
will the Secretary of State bring into effect part 6 of the
Traffic Management Act 2004 to enable local authorities outside
London to start to enable school street schemes to keep our
children safe and reduce the 40,000 deaths because of poor air
quality every year?
I will.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
I thank the Secretary of State for that very direct answer.
Around 40% of the lowest income households do not have access to
a car, but we know from the Government’s own research that
because they tend to live in more hazardous environments—so more
traffic, more on-street parking, more pollution and little space
for cycling and walking—they are deterred from active travel. Can
we have a national strategy from the Government, not just money
being sent down to local councils, to try to increase cycling and
walking in our more deprived communities?
As the hon. Lady will know, the Government are very much in
favour of people being able to take active transport, but we are
not against the car. That is why we are investing £27 billion in
roads, but I can tell her—I am sure she will welcome this—that we
think the priority for walking and cycling is absolutely
essential. I think she will be very pleased with what we have to
say in forthcoming guidance on the subject.
Public Transport: Face Coverings
(Bexleyheath and Crayford)
(Con)
What assessment his Department has made of the level of
compliance of public transport users with the requirement to wear
a face covering. [904125]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
We are working closely with transport operators and the police to
monitor compliance. Initial reports from operators suggest very
high compliance.
[V]
Wearing a face covering is an easy way to help protect us all
from coronavirus, especially in more confined spaces such as
public transport. Will my right hon. Friend join me in urging my
constituents in Bexleyheath and Crayford to make that small
change which can help us to control the virus and save lives?
My right hon. Friend is right about the importance of face
coverings. We have seen very high levels of compliance. According
to the Office for National Statistics, on the week of 26 June, it
looks like 86% compliance was in existence. We did say that in
the early days we would ensure compliance was enforced gently,
but I inform the House that TfL, Network Rail and British
Transport police will be tightening up on that. I have just
signed the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face
Coverings on Public Transport) (England) Regulations 2020, which
under regulation 8 give powers to TfL to increase enforcement.
Aviation: Decarbonisation
(Crawley) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to decarbonise the aviation
sector. [904127]
(Meriden) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to decarbonise the aviation
sector. [904145]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
I recently announced the Jet Zero Council, which will provide UK
leadership and strategic direction to cut emissions.
[V]
Britain has the potential to be world leading in sustainable
aviation fuels, but for that we need to act fast. Will the
Secretary of State therefore consider a request from the industry
for £500 million of match funding to achieve that?
My hon. Friend is right in his question, and he will be
interested to hear that we set up the Jet Zero Council
specifically to take forward the objective of being the first
country to develop a jet commercial airliner to fly at zero
carbon across the Atlantic. That will involve not just investment
in sustainable aviation fuels, in which money has already been
invested and more was announced by me at one of the press
conferences, but work on electric planes, hybrid planes and
hydrogen planes. He can expect to hear a lot more as we join with
industry to help deliver on that ambition.
I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. He will be aware
that Birmingham airport in my constituency of Meriden will be key
to the economic recovery of the region after the devastating
impact of covid-19. Will he confirm that decarbonising the
aviation sector is an economic opportunity as well as a green
one? Will he join me in commending Birmingham airport on its
commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2033?
My hon. Friend is right, and I absolutely join him on
Birmingham’s commitment to that. It is joining other airports
including, I think, Bristol, which has already achieved zero
carbon, as well as Farnborough and some of the larger airports.
What I have been most impressed with is the way in which the
industry has embraced the Jet Zero Council and the idea of
getting to zero carbon, signing its own pledges to get there. We
are determined to meet this commitment, which we will hear a lot
more about in the coming weeks and months.
Rail Service Frequency
(Stourbridge) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to increase the frequency of
rail services following reductions in those services as a result
of the covid-19 outbreak. [904128]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The rail industry will deliver an uplift in services on Monday 6
July to respond to an increase in post-4 July demand. Service
levels will be close to 85% of pre-covid levels.
The Prime Minister is a big fan of buses, just as I am a big fan
of trains—I do not make model trains yet, though—so I am proud to
support a Government who are investing £48 billion into railways,
giving them the biggest upgrade since Victorian times. Will my
hon. Friend assure me that such funding will be used to ensure
that communities across all parts of the country such as mine in
Stourbridge, have access to reliable, punctual railways?
I had already noted that my hon. Friend has a passion for rail as
she has sponsored a bid to reinstate a railways fund for the
“Stourbridge Dasher,” which I look forward to examining shortly.
Yes, the Government are investing £48 billion in our railways in
the period 2019 to 2024—that figure does not include HS2—with the
intention to use that money to deliver a reliable rail service
that helps to level up our country.
(Slough) (Lab)
I pay tribute to our wonderful rail workers, who have played a
vital role in keeping our nation moving in the midst of a
pandemic. As we come out of lockdown, I welcome the Government’s
plans to increase the frequency of rail services as, indeed, I
wholeheartedly welcomed the Government’s plans and efforts to
effectively nationalise our rail services at the start of
lockdown. It is disappointing to note, however, that other
operators such as Hull Trains have been refused the exact same
support from the Government, thereby risking hundreds of jobs.
There is no point in having lots of trains running if people are
not using those services because they fear it is not safe to do
so. Given the Government’s mixed messaging, with weakening social
distancing requirements on the one hand and patchy compliance
with the new face-covering law on the other, how does the
Minister propose to protect passengers and rail workers while
restoring public confidence in our network?
I welcome the hon. Gentleman to the Front Bench. We have had a
conversation already and I look forward to working with him. Our
railways are a very important part of bringing our nation’s
economy back. It is quite straightforward: we will have a
reliable train service that will be one of the cleanest on the
planet. We want to get customers back when they are able to
travel, given the appropriate guidance. Working together, I think
we can do that.
Public Transport Access: Sight Loss
(Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op)
What recent discussions he has had with transport providers on
safe access to public transport for people with sight loss as
covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased. [904130]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government remain committed to delivering inclusive transport
for all passengers. My officials and I meet regularly with
transport providers and make it clear that they must consider the
needs of all passengers as transport restarts. My most recent
meeting involving a sight loss charity was last Friday.
[V]
I thank the Minister for his answer. My constituent Janice, who
is blind, is anxious about how to keep safe and stay socially
distant on public transport, and she is not alone. The Royal
National Institute of Blind People’s director of services, David
Clarke, said:
“Social distancing is near-impossible for…blind and partially
sighted people which makes it difficult to go out and get
food…exercise or attend medical appointments”.
Will the Minister take this opportunity to reassure the RNIB and
my constituent by acting early to ensure that all transport
providers in England have the funds available for new accessible
signage, so that social pressure to keep to the rules does not
have an unfair impact on blind and partially sighted people?
I thank the hon. Lady for her excellent question. She is
absolutely right in everything she says. I have been working with
a whole range of accessibility groups and disability charities to
try to make sure that we get our messaging right, because we want
to welcome everyone back to our rail system eventually and we
want it to be the most accessible in the world. We have a long
way to go, but we are working with those groups to deliver that
service as best we can.
Leaving the EU: Road Haulage
(Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
What assessment he has made of the potential effect on the (a)
freight logistics and (b) road haulage sector of not reaching a
deal on the future relationship with the EU by the end of the
transition period. [904131]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The UK continues to work constructively towards a trade agreement
with the EU. Whatever our trading relationship with the EU after
31 December, the UK logistics and haulage sector will play a
critical part.
The Dover port is used by 10,000 trucks every day. If we end up
with no deal, the slightest delay means that just-in-time systems
fall apart. The logistics sector says that it needs a credible
plan to cover that high-risk situation. When will we see such a
plan?
The hon. Gentleman touches on an important point that I as a
Minister and my Department as a whole are focusing on. We are
working through detailed plans to ensure that traffic flows
smoothly through Kent, so that goods and services can continue to
flow to the EU and elsewhere, as they do at the moment.
Hydrogen Vehicles
(Buckingham) (Con)
What steps he is taking to increase the use of hydrogen vehicles.
[904132]
(Mid Norfolk) (Con)
Whether the transport decarbonisation plan will support the UK to
become a world leader in hydrogen technology. [904139]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
We are accelerating the use of hydrogen vehicles through
demonstration and R&D projects to fulfil our ambitions for
greener transport and to level up the country. Decarbonising
transport requires the sector and users to embrace new technology
and innovations such as hydrogen like never before.
I welcome the Minister’s answer. Given that hydrogen technology
presents such an enormous opportunity for clean UK-made transport
of the future, will she ensure that hydrogen gets an equal
billing in that R&D in future as we deliver the green
revolution in transport?
I entirely agree with my hon. Friend’s comments. We are totally
well placed to be a leader in clean hydrogen and fuel cell
technology, and that is down to our high-quality engineering and
manufacturing capability. This Government, I as a Minister and
the whole Department are working at pace to develop our green
recovery plan, and hydrogen will form a key part of that.
[V]
I thank the Minister and the Secretary of State for the work that
they are doing, in particular, on the transport decarbonisation
plan that he and I started together. Does the Minister agree that
to make the post-covid recovery a real catalyst both for
levelling up and sustainable growth, an industrial strategy for
hydrogen fuel with four, five or six green hydrogen transport
hubs, from Aberdeen to Teesside, Norfolk, Bristol and Northern
Ireland, and a major procurement package for hydrogen buses would
really help the UK to take a lead, drive down the cost, and lead
in the science and R&D of hydrogen fuel?
I will take this opportunity to thank my hon. Friend for his
valuable contribution in driving forward this vital agenda. We
are a world leader in technology, innovation and R&D and, as
he will know, we have invested £121 million in UK hydrogen
technology to make sure that it plays a key part in our green
recovery and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He is
also right that this has the potential to drive a fantastic
flourishing and see levelling up across our whole country. We are
working to include hydrogen and ensure that it plays a key part
in the green recovery and our levelling-up ambitions.
Aviation Sector: Worker Protection
(Worsley and Eccles South)
(Lab)
What steps he is taking to help ensure that the terms and
conditions of workers in the aviation sector are protected during
the covid-19 pandemic. [904133]
(Ealing North) (Lab/Co-op)
What steps he is taking to help ensure that the terms and
conditions of workers in the aviation sector are protected during
the covid-19 pandemic. [904143]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
The Government remain committed to an open dialogue with the
sector as we work towards our shared ambition of getting aviation
up and running again. We encourage the industry and unions to
engage constructively with each other.
[V]
British Airways is proposing to lay off 12,000 staff and is using
this pandemic as cover to put its remaining 30,000 staff on
inferior contracts. Using a global health crisis to force through
such changes is a national disgrace, yet British Airways still
enjoys preferential treatment as our flag carrier, with a
dominant position on slots at Heathrow. If it fails to treat its
staff properly, surely it is time to review whether it is fit to
be our national carrier and time to reallocate those slots.
All redundancies or any threat to jobs in this unprecedented
pandemic is incredibly worrying for all workers, and my
sympathies are with all those affected at this time. I have
spoken to Willie Walsh and encouraged BA and the unions to engage
constructively with each other. Employees should be treated
fairly and in the spirit of partnership and we are working with
the aviation sector on a restart and recovery plan. Of course, we
will be looking at all regulations at our disposal.
[V]
A constituent of mine who started working for British Airways
more than 20 years ago faces losing their job or being rehired on
worse pay and terms than when they started work. BA needs to halt
its plans and the Government have still not brought forward an
aviation sector deal, as promised three months ago. Will the
Minister therefore confirm when an aviation deal will finally be
announced and whether any deal will both extend the job retention
scheme for aviation workers and include firm conditions to help
to protect jobs, firms and pay?
The Chancellor announced an unprecedented package of measures to
support business and particularly the aviation sector. The
Chancellor and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have
been clear that we stand ready to talk to and hear from
businesses that need further support. Of course, my absolute
sympathies are with everybody affected with regards to
redundancies or any kind of change within their terms and
conditions. It is absolutely right that those employees should be
treated fairly, and I hope that the unions and BA continue to
work together to come to a proper resolution.
Decarbonisation
(Dudley North) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to decarbonise the transport
sector. [904134]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
We are creating a transport decarbonisation plan, to be published
by the end of the year, setting out a bold and ambitious pathway
for the decarbonisation of transport.
Will the Secretary of State please do all he can to bring forward
the very light rail scheme in Dudley so that we can benefit not
just from the environmental impact that the scheme will bring,
but from the economic benefits as we bounce back from covid-19?
I am aware of my hon. Friend’s enthusiasm and support for the
very light rail scheme in Dudley, and we are keen to support it.
It is important to get Dudley Council working with the West
Midlands Combined Authority and the local enterprise partnership.
We very much look forward to receiving the detailed business
case.
Electric Cycles
(Southampton, Itchen)
(Con)
What steps his Department is taking to encourage people to use
electric cycles. [904137]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government have simplified their cycle to work scheme
guidance to help employers to access e-bikes at a discount.
[V]
Southampton has received Government funding for additional cycle
lanes, many of which lie unused for most of the day. My
constituency is surrounded by hills, which is quite a deterrent
for people on cycles. E-bikes and e-scooters could make a
significant difference. I welcome the news that e-scooters will
become legal this weekend, but without relaxing the regulations
for privately owned e-scooters, a city centre hire scheme will
make little or no difference in Southampton. Will my hon. Friend
look again at privately owned e-scooters to encourage more of my
constituents out of their cars?
My hon. Friend is right to say that we need to capitalise on the
unprecedented growth in active travel that we have seen recently,
especially on bicycles and e-bicycles. He is completely correct
about e-scooters; these trials will only include rental scooters.
This will allow them to take place in a controlled manner while
we assess the safety and other impacts. A wide range of
e-scooters are available, building to different standards. I
would like to think that the trials will demonstrate how useful
they are in the mix for active travel.
Local Sustainable Transport Plans
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Whether the Government plan to make a sustainable transport plan
implementation strategy mandatory for every local authority.
[904138]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
Local areas have a key role to play in decarbonising transport
and stimulating a green recovery. We welcome plans from local
authorities, and have supported their shift to cycling and
walking with a £250 million emergency active travel fund.
Mr Sheerman [V]
Will the Minister ratchet up the sense of urgency on this? We
need sustainable towns right across the country, and sustainable
transport is at the heart of that. We could already transform
taxis to electric or hybrid, and change our buses. We can do so
much now. Will she put more pressure on—and give more resources
to—local authorities so that they lead the way, and will she
support our new commission on road air quality?
I assure the hon. Gentleman that I completely share his desire to
do things faster than they have been done to date. We have
brought forward the e-scooter trials, which will see e-scooters
being rolled out in Tees Valley and across the country to
immediately harness the benefits of the green air that we are
seeing as a result of the pandemic lockdown situation. A whole
host of other measures are coming onstream, all backed up by £2
billion of Government support for active travel including cycling
and walking. We will continue to work on this through our
transport decarbonisation plan.
Maritime Sector Jobs
(Kingston upon Hull East)
(Lab)
What steps he is taking to help protect jobs in the maritime
sector. [904141]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
My officials and I engage extensively with the maritime sector on
the support that it needs, including unprecedented financial
assistance.
[V]
P&O Ferries, which is owned by the Government of Dubai, has
pocketed millions from the British taxpayer during the covid
crisis. It is now intending to make British seafarers redundant
and replace them with low-paid, badly treated Filipino crews,
because it says that the routes are not viable when using British
seafarers. The Secretary of State told the Transport Committee
that there is nothing he can do because his hands are tied by
international agreement. It is not good enough. Will the Minister
commit to levelling up employment conditions to prevent the likes
of P&O from destroying seafarer jobs, and to unleash the
potential of this brilliant maritime city of Hull?
I note the hon. Gentleman’s particular interest in this policy
area. We have had many discussions on this issue and he knows
that I am committed to doing what I can as the Minister
responsible for maritime to increase the ability of UK seafarers
to work on our routes. We have supported the ferry sector with a
with a freight support package to protect what we needed within
the UK, but the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: we want to
make sure that we are able to create an environment in which we
can increase the number of seafarers operating around our coastal
shores.
Railways: Passenger Confidence
(Bedford) (Lab)
What recent steps the Government have taken to increase passenger
confidence in the railway. [904142]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The Government have provided guidance to transport operators and
the public so that they can travel safely. We have made it
mandatory for passengers to wear face coverings on public
transport in England and, pleasingly, compliance is growing every
day.
[V]
Covid-19 has had a profound impact on the railways, but my
constituents in Bedford and Kempston have been particularly hard
hit. The Bedford-to-Corby electrification is now delayed; the
long-awaited return of the East Midlands Railway service is
delayed until May next year; the current Thameslink service is
slow; and the Bedford-to-Bletchley trains have been stopped
altogether. Does the Minister agree that this is a far cry from
the transport revolution that his Government promised?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, but I think he is
mixing up the reaction to the obvious pressures we have had
because of the pandemic with our plans for the future. Some of
the plans that he outlined are delayed, yes, but that is because
people were not able to work safely during the pandemic. The
train line that he mentioned is no longer serving Bletchley
because nobody was using it. These services will all return and
they will be reliable and cleaner than ever before.
Transport Project Construction
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
What steps his Department is taking to fast-track construction on
transport projects while fewer passengers are using the transport
system during the covid-19 outbreak. [904148]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
In May, we announced £190 million-worth of investment in our road
and rail networks to take advantage of lower demand.
My hon. Friend is aware of platform capacity issues at Leeds
station; will he provide an update on the construction of
platform 0, which will service rail connections from Harrogate
and Knaresborough?
I pay tribute to the work that my hon. Friend did when he was a
Department for Transport Minister. Work is now under way on
platform 0 at Leeds and is expected to be completed by early next
year. It will enable Northern to operate services more reliably.
Mr Speaker
Sounds like Harry Potter, doesn’t it?
UK Seafarers
(Orkney and Shetland) (LD)
What steps he is taking to protect the rights of UK seafarers
during the covid-19 pandemic. [904172]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
()
We recognise our international obligations, our borders remain
open to seafarers, and we are enforcing their rights under the
maritime labour convention.
Mr Carmichael
Some 400,000 sailors around the world are stranded as a result of
covid restrictions. That requires international action and our
country needs to take a lead. Will the Minister do that?
I very much thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. I
happen to be able to inform him that next week I will be holding
an international summit with a particular focus on crew change
and how we can do our best for seafarers internationally.
Topical Questions
(Redcar) (Con)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
[904179]
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to say a word about how
we would like to pay tribute to the transport workers who have,
as Members have mentioned, lost their lives during this crisis.
Many of them are providing the food on our tables and helping the
key workers in the NHS and care workers to get to work to support
us all. We would therefore like to set up a commemorative
memorial for transport workers, and I can think of no better
location than Victoria station, where Belly Mujinga was an
employee who sadly lost her life.
UK steel producers, including British Steel in Lackenby, are able
to supply more than 90% of HS2’s phase 1 steel requirements. Does
the Secretary of State agree that we should do all we can to
support UK manufacturing in the construction of HS2? If we are
going to build, build, build, let us make it British, British,
British.
My hon. Friend has absolutely nailed it; he is spot on. That is
of course what we must do. I can report to him that 98% of the
purchasing for HS2 so far been from British suppliers. There is
of course a supply chain involved, but I absolutely support my
hon. Friend’s ambition and I know he will do what Network Rail
does—it buys nearly all its steel British.
(Wythenshawe and Sale East)
(Lab)
British, British, British Airways, easyJet, Airbus and Jet2—every
day we get more news of staggering job losses across the aviation
industry. Our world-class airports and their supply chains are at
critical. The US, Spain, Germany and France have all agreed
specific aviation deals so that their countries bounce back more
strongly. If not now, when will the Government implement a
comprehensive package for our aviation sector matching Labour’s
commitment?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the critical
importance of our aviation sector, which is the third biggest in
the world. These are extremely worrying times. As the air bridges
start to unlock, that will help, and we will hear more about
those soon. It is not the case that there has not been a massive
package. He forgets the £330 billion to support the economy,
which has included a number of measures that the aviation sector
has been able to take specific assistance from. It is okay to
discount it, but that is money it has been using all the way
along. In addition, the aviation sector has been able to access a
process that other sectors have not necessarily been able to,
putting it directly in talks between the Department for Transport
and the Treasury. It has been accessing money and cash through
that process, as well.
(Bolton West) (Con)
The Government have devolved a great deal of responsibility to
the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who has to deliver on the
Greater Manchester spatial framework and a transport
infrastructure required to meet the demands of increased house
building. The whole project has suffered delay after delay, so
vital infrastructure such as the Westhoughton bypass is not being
delivered. What can my right hon Friend do to remove the
roadblock in the Mayor’s office? [904180]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
We have devolved significant power and funding to metro mayors,
including to the metro mayor of Manchester, to ensure that he can
deliver the transport schemes needed to unlock housing and
growth, so that Greater Manchester’s economy can thrive as the
heart of the northern powerhouse. The bypass is one scheme for
the Mayor to consider prioritising and thereby, we hope, deliver.
We will happily work with him to ensure that conversation
continues at pace.
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
Funding for buses in South Yorkshire has been cut by 40% in the
past decade. Will the Minister commit to the additional funding
needed to implement the recommendations of the South Yorkshire
bus review? [904181]
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. Actually, £504,000 has
been provided to Sheffield City Region Combined Authority to date
through the covid-19 bus service support grant. In addition, we
are spending a huge amount of money—£3 billion—on a bus strategy
going forward. I would like to think we can work together to
deliver the service that her constituents require.
(Chesham and Amersham) (Con)
[V]
As the Secretary of State will know, many of my constituents in
Chesham and Amersham depend on Heathrow for their work. Do the
Government plan to introduce a covid-19 testing programme at
airports, and is he working with our trading partners to
establish a common international standard for health screening to
accelerate the recovery of the aviation sector and rebuild
consumer confidence in our airports and our aviation industry?
[904182]
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is important to
ensure we can provide reassurance for passengers, but also do
something useful with the screening, perhaps beyond what just
asking people to take a temperature check provides. We are
actively working with Heathrow and other airports to put exactly
those types of schemes in place, and I will be saying more about
those in time for the following review of air corridors.
(Oldham East and
Saddleworth) (Lab) [V]
Our transport sector has been devastated by the covid-19
pandemic. Out of this human tragedy, there is an opportunity not
just to build, build, build, but to build back better, with
health and wellbeing for all at the heart of it. Will the
Transport Secretary commit to “The Time is Now” pledge and ensure
that any Government investment in the transport sector announced
next week will be conditional on the early decarbonisation and
increased accessibility of fleets and infrastructure? [904184]
The hon. Member will be interested to hear about the transport
decarbonisation plan, which I think she will find goes way beyond
even the ambitions that she has set out. She will not have to
wait too much longer to see that in detail, but I have already
mentioned the net zero board, which is driving exactly the change
she seeks.
(Kensington) (Con)
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s comment in response to the
previous question that he is considering introducing testing at
airports. Will he consider backing the scheme that Swissport and
Collinson are proposing as a pilot? [904185]
My hon. Friend will be interested to hear that I am in touch with
Swissport and I am following those proposals carefully. As I said
in response to an earlier question, we believe that it is
important to provide international standards, which may well
include specific types of testing. So the answer is yes.
(Enfield, Southgate) (Lab)
The Secretary of State is determined to remove free travel from
children and young people in London—a move that is opposed by the
Mayor, London councils, many in the education sector and at least
160,000 Londoners who have put their name to a public petition.
Can the Secretary of State confirm that there will be a public
consultation before these controversial changes are made,
especially with regard to travel arrangements for 16 to
18-year-olds who will need to get to their colleges when courses
resume later this year? [904187]
It is indeed very frustrating that so much revenue failed to be
collected in the previous four years because prices were not
changed to keep up with inflation. There were no changes in the
congestion charge either. Effectively, £700 million of take was
left on the table by the London Mayor, meaning that the
Government have had to come in and bail out Transport for London
for £1.6 billion. A large chunk of that is uncollected revenue,
and changes are having to be made for youngsters’ travel. Members
across the House must recognise that it is fair that people in
other parts of the country do not unduly subsidise the Mayor, who
failed to collect the funds.
(Dudley North) (Con)
As I am sure my right hon. Friend will be aware, a number of
local authorities, such as Dudley Council, can derive a
significant income from their shareholding in local airports.
Will he and his colleagues in government do all he can to
mitigate the negative impact of a substantive loss in income
during the pandemic, as that income would have paid for services?
[904186]
The Government recognise the impact on many local authorities
that the hon. Gentleman has outlined. We have announced a vast
package of support for local authorities, and we are consulting
across government on the issues that he has raised today.
(Leeds East) (Lab) [V]
A worried constituent of mine who has worked for BA for 30 years
has helped the Government with vital repatriation flights, which
put him at risk and meant heartbreaking self-isolation from loved
ones between flights. BA has paid my constituent and his
colleagues back with a jobs betrayal that the Transport Committee
has called “a calculated attempt to take advantage of the
pandemic”. Unite and the BA Betrayal campaign have called on the
Minister to act if BA continues with these plans by amending BA’s
access to lucrative UK landing slots. Please will the Government
agree to this? [904188]
The hon. Gentleman reflects a concern that we have heard
expressed across the House today and previously, and the
Transport Committee has done excellent work. The Government are
concerned about this. We have put in a lot of money through the
furlough scheme to support jobs. We now expect British Airways,
other companies and the unions to sit down and sort this out
properly.
(Tunbridge Wells) (Con)
My right hon. Friend may be the northern powerhouse Minister, but
he knows that when it comes to levelling up, towns such as
Hastings need to be part of such measures too. The A21 is the
principal link between London and Hastings, but between Pembury
and Lamberhurst it is like a country lane. To upgrade it, plans
need to be made. Will he bring forward plans so that Hastings is
not left behind? [904189]
I am aware that my right hon. Friend and other colleagues met the
roads Minister recently on the important subject of the A21. I
absolutely share his passion. I know that it is currently
earmarked for RIS 3, but we are setting up the speed unit in
DFT—the acceleration unit—to try to ensure that we can deliver
this important infrastructure faster. We undertake to work with
him to bring forward what I know is not an enormous scheme but
would make a huge difference.
(Central Ayrshire) (SNP)
[V]
NATS air traffic control centre in my constituency has invested
millions in modernising flight path management to cut fuel usage
and reduce carbon emissions. Without action, covid threatens
thousands of jobs in UK aviation and aerospace, so will the
Secretary of State commit to a sector-specific package to protect
jobs and promote a green aviation recovery? [904198]
As I mentioned in an answer a few moments ago, we have already
put billions of pounds into supporting this sector. The hon. Lady
may be pleased to hear that there is something she can do, and
that is to ask the Scottish Government to join with us to ensure
that we can have air bridges in place nationwide as quickly as
possible.
Mr Speaker
We are now on the flightpath to Harrow East and Captain Bob.
(Harrow East) (Con) [V]
Thank you, Mr Speaker; what else would you put on for Transport
questions? My right hon. Friend the Transport Secretary has
already outlined the concerns about Transport for London’s
finances. Will he update the House on his discussions with
Transport for London and the Mayor of London about the long-term
issues with TfL’s finances? Will he also nail the lie that it was
a Government requirement to extend the congestion charge to seven
days a week from 7 am to 10 pm, which will strangle London’s
recovery from this pandemic? [904190]
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. As I explained a few moments
ago, after failing to collect £700 million of fares in various
forms and then coming to Government with a request for £1.6
billion, it stands to reason that something has to give. He is
absolutely right to mention that it is the Mayor’s decision to
extend the remit and the time of the congestion charge, although
I have to say that the Mayor left himself with precious few
options, having failed to collect that money for all those years.
(Beaconsfield) (Con)
Will my right hon. Friend assure me that transport infrastructure
will be at the heart of this Government’s levelling up agenda,
and that the £100 million that was announced for roads in the
Prime Minister’s new deal for Britain is only the start? May I
also ask the Minister to spare a thought for the roads and
potholes of Beaconsfield? [904191]
The Government have a massive agenda of levelling up this country
and providing transport infrastructure that is fit for years to
come. We are doing that, and we are investing in it. We look
forward to supporting my hon. Friend in filling potholes in her
constituency, too.
