Transport for London Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con) 1. What
recent discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on
financial support for Transport for London.(901356) The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Kane) Mr
Speaker, as maritime Minister, I pay tribute to John Prescott both
for his life at sea and for introducing the tonnage tax back in
2000 as Secretary of State for Transport, which secured the UK's
position as a world leader...Request free trial
Transport for London
(Harrow East) (Con)
1. What recent discussions she has had with the Mayor of London
on financial support for Transport for London.(901356)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
Mr Speaker, as maritime Minister, I pay tribute to both for his life at sea and
for introducing the tonnage tax back in 2000 as Secretary of
State for Transport, which secured the UK's position as a world
leader in maritime services and trained a new generation of
seafarers.
We continue to work collaboratively with City Hall, Transport for
London and other mayors on long-term transport plans, providing
lasting benefits for the public and the economy.
I join the Minister in expressing my sympathy to the family of
. He will be dearly missed
across the House and in the other place.
The previous Conservative Government allocated £6.6 billion to
subsidise the work of Transport for London, particularly to
subsidise the fare box during the pandemic. I understand from the
Budget that the Chancellor allocated £485 million to TfL, but the
figure may include £220 million already announced to finance
Elizabeth line trains. If that is discounted, that leaves £265
million. Can the Minister confirm that the position is that the
Government have suspended the de facto right of the Mayor of
London to freeze fares and that they are requiring an
inflation-busting 4.6% rise in fares in London?
This is a devolved matter. As the hon. Member said, at the Budget
we announced £485 million in capital funding for Transport for
London. Shortly afterwards, the local transport Minister, my hon.
Friend the Member for Wakefield and Rothwell (), and the deputy Mayor met
to discuss that. It is a matter for Transport for London. I am
sure the hon. Member has a first-class relationship with the
Mayor and I am sure he will press him on it.
Aviation: Accessibility for Disabled People
(Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
(Lab)
2. What steps she is taking to improve the accessibility of
aviation for disabled people.(901357)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
MayI take this opportunity to pay my tribute to the former Deputy
Prime Minister and my predecessor as Transport Secretary? A
merchant navy steward who became Deputy Prime Minister, a
visionary Transport Secretary and an icon of the New Labour
Government, he was an inspiration to working class boys and girls
across our country for what our Labour movement can achieve. Our
thoughts are with Pauline, his family and everyone who loved him
in our whole Labour family.
The Government are committed to ensuring that aviation is
accessible to all. I am proud that we have established the
aviation accessibility task and finish group, bringing together
industry and consumer advocates with first-hand experience to
improve aviation accessibility.
I associate myself with the tributes to . As a sponsor of the Aviation
(Accessibility) Bill, introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for
Bexleyheath and Crayford (), I welcome the Secretary
of State's announcement of the new expert group to break down the
barriers to air travel that are still experienced by far too many
disabled people. Does she agree that ensuring all disabled people
have the ability to travel on flights safely and with dignity
must now be a priority for the whole aviation industry?
I am very grateful to my hon. Friend and pay tribute to him and
my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford () for their ten-minute rule
Bill on this important issue. The human impact for too many
people with accessibility issues when flying is severe and that
is why it is this Government's priority to set up the
accessibility task and finish group. We are requiring the
industry to match our ambition.
(Aberdeenshire North and
Moray East) (SNP)
For regional and island airports, accessibility equipment can
carry significant cost in proportion to the number of passengers
using the facility. However, it remains vital that disabled
passengers' access is supported. What action is the Secretary of
State taking to support smaller airports in this regard?
Airports are represented in the accessibility task and finish
group through their trade association, AirportsUK, and both large
and smaller airports are represented individually as well. We
will work closely with the industry to look at what voluntary
measures can be adopted as we also consider enforcement powers
for the Civil Aviation Authority.
Midland Main Line Electrification
(Harborough, Oadby and
Wigston) (Con)
3. What recent estimate she has made of when electrification of
the midland main line will be complete.(901358)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The electrification of the remainder of the route to Nottingham
and Sheffield via Derby—the midland main line electrification
programme—is in development, and currently it is planned to be
completed by the early 2030s, subject to business case approvals
and wider affordability considerations.
It is marvellous that we now have the electric lines energised up
through Market Harborough to Wigston, and we are looking forward
to our electric trains arriving next year. Even better, we have
Spion Kop bridge staying open. Will the Rail Minister meet me to
ensure that we avoid any risk that future electrification works
lead to a further withdrawal of late and early services to Market
Harborough? The last train back from London is already far too
early, so we need to avoid the works having any further damaging
impact.
We are all concerned about the impact of works on services. I
know that the Rail Minister is aware of that and would welcome
the opportunity to visit, alongside Network Rail, to see the work
being done to mitigate the impact on the hon. Gentleman's
constituents as that work continues.
Bus Franchising
(Truro and Falmouth)
(Lab/Co-op)
4. Whether she is taking steps to support the participation of
small and medium-sized local bus operators in bus franchising
schemes.(901359)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
This Government are empowering every community to take back
control of their local bus services. Legislation on bus
franchising requires local authorities to consider small and
medium-sized enterprises as part of the franchising process. We
are working with those interested in pursuing franchising to
develop different models, including smaller-scale models, which
require less financial commitment and provide more opportunities
for small and medium-sized bus operators to participate.
I am pleased to hear that this is part of the consultation on
updating the bus franchising guidance. We have some strong local
SMEs in Falmouth that provide a knowledgeable, local and flexible
bus service, along with community bus services too. Will the
Minister please confirm that she will be supportive of that kind
of model when going through the guidance?
My hon. Friend is a great champion for businesses in her
constituency. We recognise the important role that smaller local
bus operators can provide in delivering high-quality bus
services; they know their customers and their communities. In
addition to the requirement to consider SMEs as part of the
franchising process, this Government's reforms to the bus system
are designed to give more options to local communities to deliver
local bus services. Our transformative buses Bill will seek to
give local areas the choice of pursuing bus franchising,
high-quality partnerships with the private sector or local
authority-owned bus companies and, once in law, will provide more
opportunities for all operators, including SMEs.
(Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Minister for that answer, which is incredibly
helpful. To support the participation of small and medium-sized
local bus companies in bus franchising schemes, they also want to
be energy-efficient. That enables them to apply for the
franchises and do better. How can the Minister help those small
and medium-sized bus companies to be energy efficient—with
hydrogen buses, for example—and thereby gain the franchises and
contracts?
Transport matters are devolved in the hon. Gentleman's
constituency, of course, but putting buses at the heart of our
policies and wanting to increase ridership provides brilliant
opportunities for local manufacturers of buses to take part and
supports local manufacturers and operators.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Orpington) (Con)
On behalf of the Opposition Front Bench, I too offer my sincere
sympathies to the family of the late on his passing.
On Monday, in her statement on bus funding, the Secretary of
State said that a formula was being used to allocate funding. She
said that the formula will allocate funding
“based on local need, population, the distance that buses travel,
and levels of deprivation…This formula and the funding allocated
is a fair arrangement, ensuring that every area of the country
gets the service levels it needs”.[—[Official Report, 18 November
2024; Vol. 757, c.
43-45.]](/search/column?VolumeNumber=757&ColumnNumber=43&House=1)
The formula, including the weighting given to the various factors
by the right hon. Lady, has not been published. When will it
be?
I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his question. We are
proud of the work that we have done to ensure that every part of
the country benefits from additional funding for their buses, and
we will publish that later today.
The Secretary of State also said in her statement:
“Councils such as Leicester, the Isle of Wight, Torbay and
Cambridgeshire will see unprecedented levels of funding for
services.”[—[Official Report, 18 November 2024; Vol. 757, c.
42.]](/search/column?VolumeNumber=757&ColumnNumber=42&House=1)
What levels of subsidy does she believe that bus services in
those areas will require?
It is incredibly important that decisions about local services
are taken by those who are operating them. That is why not only
have we provided substantial levels of funding—£1 billion
announced in the Budget and the allocations set out on Monday—but
we are providing local transport authorities with the powers they
need to provide the services that local communities want and
deserve.
Local Bus Services: Travel to School
(Tunbridge Wells) (LD)
5. If she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of local
bus services in enabling children's travel to school.(901360)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government know how important local bus services are in
providing access to education. We have set out an ambitious
programme of reform to empower local leaders to improve services
for passengers, including through the introduction of the buses
Bill, to ensure that they better reflect the needs of local
communities.
I, too, associate myself with the remarks about .
In my constituency of Tunbridge Wells, a group of parents have
told me about the difficulties that their children have in
getting to Skinners' Kent academy. The children can get either
the No. 2 or the No. 297. The first one gets them to school 90
minutes early, so they have to wait by the side of a busy road in
the cold and the dark, and the latter gets them there 15 minutes
late. Over a school year, that is 50 hours of education. Kent was
given £23 million for bus services. Beyond giving the money, what
will the Department for Transport be doing to ensure that the
money will increase the frequency of services so that children
can get to school on time?
Mr Speaker
I think an Adjournment debate may be needed.
Well, Mr Speaker, I do not know the particular details of the No.
2 or the No. 297—[Interruption.] Forgive me. As the hon. Member
has pointed out, Kent county council has been given £23.1 million
as part of our £1 billion package for buses. We are righting a
lot of wrongs over the underfunding of rural services, in
particular, over the years, and we expect to see a much better
bus service across our whole country in the future.
(Poole) (Lab)
May I, too, associate myself with the tributes paid to ?
Over the past few weeks, a number of parents have contacted me to
ask whether school transport can be brought into the scope of the
bus fare cap. Will the Minister agree to look at that?
Services from participating operators that serve schools are open
to members of the public and run all year round and will be
eligible for inclusion in the scheme. The current fare cap does
not allow for the inclusion of closed school services at the
moment—that is for logistic reasons, I understand.
(North Herefordshire)
(Green)
In the statement on bus services on Monday, I asked the Secretary
of State about extending concessionary travel to children and
young people. Her response was to suggest that MPs should talk to
our individual local authorities about this, but that is not the
approach that we take to concessionary travel for pensioners. I
have just been contacted by somebody aged over 16 who cannot
afford to go to college because it would cost £1,500 a year, and
her family just cannot afford that. Is it not the case that
concessionary bus travel for children and young people should be
extended on a national basis, rather than having this postcode
lottery?
As a former schoolteacher, I know how important getting children
to education is, and those bus services provide vital lines. That
is why we have put £1 billion into our bus services network. I
suggest that local services, such as mine in the Bee Network in
Greater Manchester, have used their resource to improve access to
education for young people.
(Hitchin) (Lab)
Rural communities in towns and villages such as Holwell in my
constituency, which I visited last week, often depend on buses
for their day-to-day life and for getting their children to
school, but all too often the reliability of these services makes
it increasingly hard for families to depend on them. What new
powers and funding will this Government be giving transport
authorities, such as Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire, to
ensure that they can get buses for my community back on
track?
Like our rail users, bus users depend on punctuality. Our bus
services have not been up to scratch, with vast underfunding over
the past few years. We are hoping that the £955 million
investment in our buses will give local communities the powers
they need to hold operators to account on the punctuality of
those buses, so that our young people can get to their colleges
and schools on time.
Transport Infrastructure
(Camborne and Redruth)
(Lab)
6. What steps she is taking to improve transport
infrastructure.(901361)
(Thurrock) (Lab)
10. What steps she is taking to improve transport
infrastructure.(901365)
(Crewe and Nantwich)
(Lab)
16. What steps she is taking to improve transport
infrastructure.(901373)
(Monmouthshire) (Lab)
21. What steps she is taking to improve transport
infrastructure.(901379)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
We have heard over the last 14 years that the infrastructure
sector and wider supply chain needs stability and certainty—no
more chopping and changing—and last month's Budget committed this
Government to that approach, ensuring that people have access to
transport services and infrastructure that meets their needs. The
Department's capital settlement secures the delivery and
development of infrastructure projects, including upgrades to
rail in the north, further electrification of services between
Church Fenton and York by 2026, and significant major road
upgrades across the north of England.
I associate myself with the comments about .
Public access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure is
vital to encourage motorists to switch away from petrol and
diesel vehicles, but the roll-out process is reliant on dedicated
and experienced local authority resources, funding for which is
due to run out next year. Will the Secretary of State meet me to
discuss measures to avoid local authorities becoming bottlenecks
in the roll-out of publicly accessible EV charging
infrastructure?
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. Our manifesto was
clear that we are committed to accelerating the electric vehicle
charge point roll-out, particularly to address the inequity
across the country. I fully recognise the importance of local
authorities in achieving that, and in the Budget we announced
over £200 million of investment in charging for 2025-26,
including that important support for local authorities. I am sure
that my hon. Friend the Minister for the future of roads would be
happy to meet him.
The Dartford crossing linking Essex and Kent is a key piece of
transport infrastructure in my constituency. However, since
moving to a new charging system last year, there have been
serious failings in the administration of the Dart charge.
Problems include credit not being carried over from the old
system. Cars have incorrectly been charged, accounts have been
closed in error and, in one particularly egregious example, a
constituent of mine was told by an enforcement agent standing on
her doorstep that she owed £8,000. I thank the Secretary of State
for her attention on this matter. Will she update the House on
the steps that her Department is taking to resolve the
matter?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this important issue.
I have received several representations about its impact on
drivers who use the Dartford crossing. It is essential that when
errors occur they are cleared up quickly, and with compassion for
those affected. I expect National Highways to work with its
service providers at the Dartford crossing to ensure that that
happens, and my hon. Friend the Minister for the future of roads
has been holding National Highways to account. My officials are
continuing to work with National Highways to drive down incorrect
penalty charge notices and provide much better support to
customers.
The Labour mayors Andy and are developing proposals
for a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester. What
engagement has the Department had with the mayors and investors
in relation to this project, and does my right hon. Friend agree
that, as a key transport hub, Crewe must be at the heart of any
future rail infrastructure connecting the north and the
midlands?
My hon. Friend has consistently stood up for Crewe in the wake of
the cancellation of HS2. Crewe was particularly badly hit by that
announcement. I was pleased to meet with Mayors Burnham and
Parker this week to discuss their proposals to address the
capacity and connectivity issues north of Birmingham, and I will
continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders on this
topic.
I welcome the Government's recommitment to improving public
transport and rail infrastructure across Britain. In
Monmouthshire, we are eagerly awaiting the innovative Magor
walkway station, which will reduce M4 congestion, improve public
transport and, most importantly, help us in our mission to bring
economic growth and boost the economy locally. Will the Secretary
of State commit to working with me and Welsh Ministers to deliver
the five Burns stations, including the Magor walkway, and will
she meet me to discuss progress?
I am familiar with Lord Burns's recommendations for new stations
in south Wales to relieve congestion on the M4 motorway, and I am
in discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State
for Wales and Welsh Ministers on these proposals. I would be more
than happy to discuss progress with my hon. Friend.
(Richmond and Northallerton)
(Con)
I thank the Secretary of State for agreeing to meet me and the
hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale () about the A66. While there is a strong economic case
for dualling, the road safety considerations concern me most. As
she will know, 12 people tragically lost their life on the road
last week. I recently met constituents in Ravensworth who live
near one of the single carriageway sections of the road. They
live daily with those fears. Will she reassure them that she and
her team will keep road safety considerations uppermost in their
mind as they think about the future of the A66?
The former Prime Minister managed to ask two questions, because
he asked his first behind the Chair earlier. I am more than happy
to meet him to discuss the A66, which we are considering and
which provides that crucial northern trans-Pennine connectivity.
I reassure him that we take road safety seriously, particularly
on that section of road. We are in the process of developing the
first road safety strategy in more than a decade.
(Bath) (LD)
Bath's council is consulting on creating 6.2 km of cycle roads.
The recent £100 million increase to the active travel fund is
welcome, but councils need long-term funding. Will the Secretary
of State commit to long-term funding of the active travel
plans?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right, and we were pleased to
overturn the previous Government's cuts to Active Travel England,
ensuring that it can help authorities such as Bath scale up their
capability and capacity and deliver those important active travel
routes. As we look towards the second phase of the spending
review, the ambition is absolutely to move to multi- year
settlements, deliver that important consistency and
sustainability for local authorities.
(East Wiltshire) (Con)
I thank the Minister with responsibility for roads for meeting my
right hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury () and me last week to discuss the
future of the A303 and the north-south routes through Wiltshire;
village roads are clogged with heavy goods vehicle traffic.
Seeing as the Government have scrapped the Stonehenge tunnel,
saving billions of pounds, I implore the Minister, as she
considers the road investment strategy for next year, to think
about mitigation of the unsustainable traffic problems that we
have in Wiltshire. We have been waiting years for improvements.
Please could that be considered as part of the next RIS?
As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the Minister has already
asked National Highways to meet the hon. Gentleman and his
colleagues to discuss those important issues. We will place
statutory duties and stretching freight targets on Great British
Railways to encourage freight off the roads and on to the
railways, but we are absolutely considering the specific
congestion issues in the south-west as we look towards the road
investment strategy.
(Bromley and Biggin Hill)
(Con)
An increasing amount of Transport for London's funding comes from
punitive taxes on motorists, including those in my constituency
of Bromley and Biggin Hill. There are reports that the Mayor of
London was actively planning to charge drivers up to 60p a mile
to drive. Will the Secretary of State take the opportunity to
discourage the mayor from introducing pay-per-mile road user
charging across Greater London?
I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is fully aware that the mayor
has repeatedly made it clear that he has no plans to act on road
user charging.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Broadland and Fakenham)
(Con)
We will all miss . He was a titan of our
politics, and a man not afraid to come out swinging for what he
believed in.
The figures show that capital spending on transport is not rising
under Labour; it will fall by 3.1% in real terms next year. We
have huge tax rises and a more than £70 billion increase in tax.
Labour's black hole myth has been debunked by the Office for
Budget Responsibility, the Financial Times and the Institute for
Fiscal Studies—all real economists—so why the cut in capital
spending? The Secretary of State was out of her depth when she
negotiated a £9,000 pay rise for ASLEF train drivers with nothing
in return. Was she out of her depth when she negotiated with her
own Chancellor?
This Budget delivered £1 billion funding for local bus services
and transformational capital investment in infrastructure
projects, such as the trans-Pennine route upgrade, the A57 and,
of course, East West Rail. This Government are committed to
investing, investing, investing in transport, transport,
transport.
Railway Ticketing
(Knowsley) (Lab)
7. What steps she is taking to simplify railway ticketing.
(901362)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
This Government are committed to reviewing the over-complicated
fares system to simplify it. We only have to look on social media
any day of the week to see examples of people being confused and
wrongly prosecuted because of the confusing nature of the rail
system. My officials are exploring how ticketing innovations such
as digital pay-as–you-go and digital season tickets can be rolled
out more widely as quickly as possible.
I associate myself with the tributes paid to . Radio Merseyside has
featured many stories about passengers who were fined because
they bought train tickets in good faith, only to find out that
they were the wrong ones. Some of my Knowsley constituents find
themselves being fined or denied travel by Merseytravel for
buying tickets legitimately online. What steps is the Secretary
of State taking to work with our mayor, , and with Merseyrail and
other operators, to ensure that passengers are not unfairly
penalised, and to create a clear and fair ticketing system that
is easy for everyone to use?
We are working with the mayors as we look to establish Great
British Railways. I have asked the Office of Rail and Road to
conduct an independent review of rail operators' revenue
protection practices. That launches today and will involve
devolved operators, where appropriate. Addressing fare evasion is
a priority, but we must always treat passengers fairly and
appropriately.
Mr Speaker
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
Mr (Wimbledon) (LD)
May I join others in expressing my party's sympathy for the
family, friends, colleagues and former constituents of ? He was a towering
figure.
I welcome the Secretary of State's comments on simplifying
ticketing. That will doubtless help to get people back on to the
railways. Affordability is also critical to increasing the use of
public transport. Alongside her 50% hike in bus fares, the
Chancellor buried on page 97 of the Budget an above-inflation
rail fare increase of 4.6%. That kicks in from March 2025, just
when we expect public ownership of the railroads to begin.
Mr Speaker
Ahem.
Mr Kohler
Now that the railways are coming under her guardianship, will the
Secretary of State assure the House that that will be the last
above-inflation rail fare increase in this Parliament?
Mr Speaker
Order. Questions should be a bit shorter. I do not know who is
doing your briefings—well, I suspect I do—but shorter questions
would be helpful.
Of course, a priority for this Government is to keep public
transport affordable, but our absolute priority is to fix the
mess in the railways that we inherited after 14 years of
under-investment, decline and putting passengers last in a broken
system.
Condition of Local Roads
(Reading Central) (Lab)
8. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the
condition of local roads. (901363)
Mr (Leeds South West and Morley)
(Lab)
9. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition
of local roads. (901364)
(North Warwickshire and
Bedworth) (Lab)
13. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition
of local roads. (901368)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government are determined to improve the condition of local
roads. We had a manifesto commitment to support councils in
fixing up to 1 million more potholes per year. We are going above
and beyond that manifesto commitment: last month's Budget
confirmed an increase of £500 million for next financial year to
fix Britain's crumbling roads.
I pay tribute to . I welcome the Secretary of
State's announcement of this vital funding. Will she comment on
the excellent work carried out by Reading borough council, which
has started resurfacing large sections of road? That not only
creates a smoother surface for drivers, but has been proven to
save money in the long run.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the excellent
practices being undertaken by Reading borough council. That is
the kind of innovation that we need to see across the country—not
just fixing and repairing potholes, but ensuring that we prevent
them and improve the quality and lifespan of our local roads.
Dr (Runnymede and Weybridge)
(Con)
People living near the concrete sections of the M25 in my
constituency are besieged by motorway noise. In fact, some
schools and homes cannot open windows, such is the noise
nuisance. Does the Secretary of State agree that that is an
absolute disgrace, and will she support my campaign to scrap the
concrete sections of the M25 motorway?
I believe the hon. Gentleman met the Under-Secretary of State for
Transport, my hon. Friend hon. Member for Nottingham South
(), last week on exactly
that issue. She will follow up on it, as will National
Highways.
Mr Sewards
I associate myself with the comments about . I am grateful for the
Secretary of State's answers on local roads. The roads in Leeds
South West and Morley are in a dire state. Asquith Avenue has
been compared to the surface of the moon. Commuters in Farnley,
Wortley, Morley and Tingley have to dodge potholes every day, and
even the more rural areas of my constituency, such as Ardsley and
Robin Hood, are suffering the same fate. What reassurances can
the Secretary of State give my constituents that those roads will
be improved, and when can they expect those improvements?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Potholes and poor road
conditions are a menace that make our roads less safe and have
saddled drivers with costly repairs. The £500 million uplift will
be available in '25-26, and we will announce the allocations
shortly, including those for West Yorkshire.
I also pay tribute to . Nearly 20% of my
constituents work in the vital freight and logistics sector, yet
the industry continues to pick up the bill for the failure of
Warwickshire county council to fix my constituents'
pothole-riddled roads. Now that the Government have provided a
£500 million increase to fix potholes, does the Secretary of
State agree that the council must take action to tackle the
scourge of potholes, which are causing untold damage to my
constituents' cars, trucks and lorries?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Local authorities are
responsible for the state of their local roads, but with this
significant uplift for '25-26, we expect them to ensure that that
is a priority, and to tackle the state of the local roads, which
is affecting my hon. Friend's constituents so badly.
(Brigg and Immingham)
(Con)
was a towering figure in the
politics of the Humber region, and I associate myself with the
words of sympathy to his family. Roads in my constituency are
under greater pressure because traffic from the A180 is
continually being transferred on to them while it is being
patched up. Earlier this month, the hon. Member for Great Grimsby
and Cleethorpes () and I met National Highways,
and it is perfectly obvious that the A180 will be in its present
state for many years to come. Will the Secretary of State meet me
and the hon. Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes to discuss
this and other transport issues in the area?
Mr Speaker
You are running out of road.
I am sure that the Minister with responsibility for roads, my
hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham South (), would be very happy to
meet the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend the Member for Great
Grimsby and Cleethorpes ().
(Eastbourne) (LD)
The safety and condition of our roads are hugely dependent on
those who drive on them, but too many vehicles illegally use our
roads without tax, without registering their details with the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, and without their MOT. I
thank Jamie from Seven Sisters garage for sorting my MOT out last
week. Will the Secretary of State meet industry experts, such as
Eastbourne's very own Alan Wood of the National Persistent Evader
Database, to discuss their solutions to tackling this problem,
and making our roads safer?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that important point. I
have met the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to talk about
its important enforcement work in this area. Measures of that
kind will absolutely be considered in the development of our road
safety strategy, and we will work closely with stakeholders,
exactly as the Minister with responsibility for roads
mentioned.
Greg (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
I associate myself with the tributes paid to . Talking of pothole repairs
and road resurfacing, the director of the RAC, Steve Gooding,
said:
“The long-term solution is a long-term funding settlement for
councils so they can finally get on top of what has been a
perennial problem.”
But councils—[Laughter.] Hon. Members might laugh, but our
councils, which have to do the work of repairing our roads, do
not know how much money they will get from the much-trumpeted
£500 million. When will our councils actually get their
allocations?
As I have said, the £500 million is available for '25-26, and
those allocations will be announced shortly. The brass neck on
Opposition Members never ceases to amaze.
Greg
I am just trying to get answers for our councils. Of course, it
was the previous Government who committed £8.3 billion to road
repairs, using money from the rightly cancelled sections of High
Speed 2. Back in May, when it was in opposition, Labour tried to
claim a backlog of more than £16 billion in road repairs, but now
it just trumpets funding of £500 million. That is not enough, is
it?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for recognising the appalling
state of our local roads, and the appalling backlog that we
inherited. The significant uplift allocated for next year will
start to turn the page on 14 years of decline, but of course that
cannot be achieved overnight.
Rural Bus Services
(Thornbury and Yate) (LD)
11. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of bus
services in rural areas. (901366)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
Fourteen years of decline in local bus services under the
previous Administration has hit communities across the country
hard, especially in rural areas. This Government know that buses
are a lifeline, and through our upcoming buses Bill, we will give
all local leaders the powers that they need to design networks
that meet the needs of their communities, including measures to
ensure that vital services for passengers remain running.
Many of my Thornbury and Yate constituents have been impacted by
the loss of the 84/85 bus. I am told that funding is made more
difficult because that bus is a cross-border service between
Gloucestershire and the west of England. Does the Minister agree
that the rules need clarifying, so that they do not get in the
way of ensuring that we keep important bus services running?
I absolutely recognise the concern that arises when vital bus
services are lost, which the hon. Lady mentioned. That is why, in
the forthcoming buses Bill, we will explore a local network
management measure that will give local transport authorities the
power to ensure that cuts to local networks are made only when
absolutely necessary, thus protecting people like her
constituents, who relied on that vital bus service.
Mr Speaker
I call .
(Redditch) (Lab)
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for recognising my half-bob. My thoughts
are with Lord Prescott's family; he was one of the first
politicians I met as a young student, and he certainly made an
impression.
May I congratulate the Secretary of State and the Minister on the
£9.3 million investment in buses in Worcestershire? I represent a
rural constituency where people have not been able to get to
work, access health services or stay connected with friends and
family. This investment may well make a real difference to their
lives.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to speak up for his
constituents in Worcestershire, and about the difference that
will be made by the funding that this Government are providing.
It will ensure that his constituents have the connections that
were cut off for too long under the previous Government.
Railway Stations: Accessibility
(Mid Cheshire) (Lab)
12. What steps she is taking to improve the accessibility of
railway stations for disabled people. (901367)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
Ensuring that rail services and facilities are accessible to all
is a core principle of our plan to fix Britain's broken rail
system. The Department is carefully considering the best approach
to station accessibility, and recognises the huge social and
economic benefits it brings to communities. MPs and stakeholders
will be updated in due course.
After Northwich station collapsed in 2021, an Access for All
application was submitted, with the support of local partners, to
add step-free access to the Chester-bound platform.
Unfortunately, that opportunity was missed by the last
Government, and the station has been rebuilt without those
accessibility improvements. I welcome the inclusion of improving
accessibility in Great British Railways' mandate, but what steps
can be taken to ensure that stations such as Northwich see
improvements while we wait for GBR to get up and running?
First, I thank my hon. Friend for picking up the baton on
Northwich station—we all remember the terrible situation when the
canopy collapsed. This Government are committed to improving the
accessibility of the railway, and recognise its huge social and
economic benefits. The Access for All programme will deliver 32
step-free stations this financial year, the most since that
programme started. Anyone unable to use a station in the meantime
can book alternative transport with the operator at no additional
cost.
Chiltern Railways: Overcrowding
Freddie van Mierlo (Henley and Thame) (LD)
14. If she will take steps to help reduce overcrowding on
Chiltern Railways services. (901371)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Secretary of State for Transport, and officials continue to work
closely with Chiltern Railways to support delivery of an improved
passenger experience. To reduce crowding, Chiltern periodically
adjusts its timetable, responding to passenger demand. It is
exploring options for procuring additional trains, in order to
relieve crowding while ensuring value for money for the
taxpayer.
Freddie van Mierlo
Haddenham and Thame Parkway train station is a key transport hub
for my residents who commute regularly to London. However,
constituents face overcrowded trains; some even report fainting
on hot, stuffy trains. I understand that Chiltern Railways has an
active business case with the Department for Transport. Will the
Minister approve, as a matter of priority, the replacement trains
and carriages that it is requesting?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that question on behalf of those
people who travel on Chiltern Railways. The Rail Minister has
assured me that the cascaded rolling stock is under active
consideration in the Department, and we will complete the process
as soon as possible.
Tyne Bridge Restoration
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West) (Lab)
15. If she will take steps to help ensure that the Tyne Bridge is
restored in time for its centenary in 2028. (901372)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
I thank my hon. Friend for that question —she is a great champion
for her city. It is the responsibility of Newcastle city council
to manage the bridge restoration project, but we encourage the
council to do all it can to ensure that the restoration of this
iconic bridge is completed in time for its centenary
celebrations.
As the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on jazz, I want
to add to the many tributes paid to the great by saying that he was a
champion of jazz and a jazz lover as well.
I do hope that the Minister will be able to join us on the
restored Tyne bridge for its centenary celebrations in 2028.
However, she may be aware that an uplift to the funding announced
under the previous Government for the restoration has not yet
materialised, and inflation and issues uncovered during the
project have led to a rise in costs. Could she confirm to me that
the difficult decisions this Government have made mean that the
uplift in funding will be available for the fully restored Tyne
bridge?
I thank my hon. Friend for that fantastic invitation on 2028.
This Government's manifesto was clear that we want to forge ahead
with infrastructure improvements as part of our mission to
kick-start economic growth. As with all schemes in the major road
network programme, the Department's contribution is fixed once
the scheme is approved, and Newcastle city council was awarded
over £35 million towards the total cost of the scheme. However, I
absolutely commend her for championing this important project. As
she says, it is one of the world's most iconic bridges, and we
are happy to keep this in mind in the context of the spending
review.
Transport Decarbonisation
Dr (Loughborough) (Lab)
17. What steps she is taking to decarbonise the transport
sector.(901374)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government are committed to delivering greener transport. The
Department is overhauling public transport services to make the
sustainable choice the most convenient choice. It is
turbocharging the roll-out of electric vehicles and charging
infrastructure, and it is making the UK a world leader in the
production and use of sustainable aviation fuels.
Dr Sandher
Transport is decarbonising more slowly than other sectors
because, while car emissions have fallen by 20% since 1990,
haulage emissions have barely moved. Earlier this month, my
constituency hosted the East Midlands Hydrogen summit, where we
saw how heavy goods vehicles can be powered through green, clean
hydrogen. What steps is the Department taking, and what steps
will it take, to support green hydrogen in the use of heavy goods
vehicles?
It is great that my hon. Friend is such a champion of hydrogen.
The Department's £200 million zero emission HGV and
infrastructure demonstration programme is funding hundreds of
hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric HGVs and their refuelling
and recharging infrastructure. To support the transition to zero
emission HGVs, data will be published and widely shared with the
haulage and logistics industry.
Mr (Basildon and Billericay)
(Con)
Yesterday, Ford announced that 4,000 jobs are going across
Europe, including 800 here, many of which are in my constituency
of Basildon and Billericay. There are real concerns about the
lack of take-up of electric vehicles because the Government are
not providing clear enough long-term support, and about the extra
taxes imposed on both ICE—internal combustion engine—vehicles and
electric vehicles through vehicle excise duty at the Budget.
Would the Minister meet me and other affected MPs to see what can
be done to address these important issues affecting workers in
our constituencies?
The right hon. Member is right to raise this, and the Secretary
of State did meet Ford yesterday. We understand that this is a
concerning time for workers at Ford, especially as it is a
significant player in the UK's automotive industry. We committed
£200 million in the Budget for this area of work, and we hope to
alleviate the situation as soon as humanly possible.
Local Transport Funding
(Ilford South) (Lab)
18. What financial support she is providing to local transport
authorities and mayors.(901375)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
In the Budget, the Government confirmed over £1 billion of
funding to support bus services, an additional £200 million for
eligible mayors, over £650 million for local transport outside
the city regions, a £500 million increase in local highways
maintenance and £485 million for Transport for London, which
includes funding for rolling stock on the Piccadilly and
Elizabeth lines.
May I, too, associate myself with the tributes paid to the late
?
I commend the Government's initiatives to increase connectivity
across London. For example, the new zero emission buses are
making public transport so much more convenient and greener.
Nearly half of my constituents in Ilford South travel by public
transport. What support is the Secretary of State providing to
the Mayor of London, and TfL in particular, to ensure that my
constituents can continue to commute to work?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his championing of his
constituents' ability to commute affordably and reliably. The
Government provided Transport for London with £485 million of
capital funding for 2025-26, which includes funding for the
procurement of new trains and rolling stock.
Rail Connectivity
(Blackpool North and
Fleetwood) (Lab)
19. What steps she is taking to improve rail connectivity.
(901377)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
For too long, poor performance and connectivity particularly
across the north of England has been tolerated. That is why one
of my top five transport priorities is improving performance on
the railways and driving forward reform. The Budget confirmed
significant investment in rail enhancements, such as the
TransPennine route upgrade, and we are committed to improving
connectivity in addition to our work improving our overall
network.
I too send my condolences to John Prescott's family.
The town of Fleetwood and Thornton in my constituency has
suffered poor transport connections for many years. Will the
Secretary of State update the House on the status of the funds to
improve rail links across the country, and will the relevant
Minister meet me to discuss ways to improve transport connections
into and out of Thornton and Fleetwood?
My hon. Friend is a champion for her constituency. We confirmed
significant investment in rail enhancements across the country in
the Budget, but as we look to the second phase of the spending
review we will be setting out the long-term infrastructure
strategy. On Fleetwood in particular, I am sure the local
transport Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield and
Rothwell (), would be happy to meet
my hon. Friend to discuss this particular transport need in her
constituency.
(Aldridge-Brownhills)
(Con)
At the last Transport questions on 10 October, I asked the
Transport Secretary to confirm the status of the ringfenced
funding for Aldridge train station. She promised to reply in
writing. I followed this up with a letter. To date, I have
received no response. The people of Aldridge deserve to know what
has happened to the £30 million awarded to us for our new train
station: can the Secretary of State tell us where it is,
please?
I sincerely apologise to the right hon. Lady and will make sure
she receives that letter today.
Topical Questions
(Newton Abbot) (LD)
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental
responsibilities.(901381)
The Secretary of State for Transport ()
Moving fast and fixing things is a promise not a soundbite.
Yesterday the landmark Passenger Railway Services (Public
Ownership) Bill completed its passage through this place and now
awaits Royal Assent. This is a significant milestone, bringing
the railways back into public hands, restoring trust after years
of lack of trust and renewing a promise to passengers that the
railways can work better for them. At the same time, we are
tackling rail performance now. London North Eastern Railway and
TransPennine Express cancellations are down. I have tasked the
Office of Rail and Road with reviewing ticket enforcements.
On roads, this Government's £500 million boost for local highways
next year will support local leaders to fix up to 1 million more
potholes per year, delivering on our manifesto pledge. On top of
this, we are delivering transformative investment in
infrastructure that connects our great cities and towns. This
Government are delivering transport enhancements that drive
growth, improve lives and connect every corner of the
country.
The storm in 2014 broke the Dawlish sea wall, collapsed cliffs
and blocked the south-west main line for months. Will the
Secretary of State assure us that the crucial rail resilience
programme final phase will be funded so that Network Rail keeps
the project alive, rather than halting it in its tracks?
As we look to settling Network Rail's control period 7, of course
that will be a major consideration in the next funding
settlement.
(West Lancashire) (Lab)
T2. Earlier this year the Prime Minister committed to working
with metro mayors on improving rail links between Manchester and
Liverpool. Skelmersdale in my constituency is a town of 40,000
people slap-bang between those two great cities and does not have
a train station. What measures in the Budget will help support
transport links for my constituents, and will the Transport
Secretary meet me to discuss rail links and a station train for
Skem?(901382)
The Budget committed significant funding both for mayoral areas
and those not covered by mayoral combined authorities through the
local transport fund. Crucially, new powers will be delivered to
those areas to ensure they can take back control of their local
public transport services. Of course I would be delighted to meet
my hon. Friend to discuss this further.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Orpington) (Con)
Greater London is the most heavily populated and most
economically active area in the whole country. It also has the
highest level of bus use. In the last financial year, the level
of bus subsidy in London amounted to £646 million. In the
Secretary of State's statement on Monday, of the £1 billion of
funding that she indicated, £700 million will be spent on
producing bus planning documents, and only £243 million is going
to bus services. That will not touch the sides, will it? Is the
truth not that, far from it being generational reform, it is
publicly funded window dressing?
The way that the previous Government approached bus service
improvement plans was to force local authorities to waste money
on developing those plans. This money is going directly to
authorities to make sure they are delivering public services.
Public transport is a public service and it should always be
funded.
(Blyth and Ashington) (Lab)
T3. was a good friend, and
condolences go to his wife Pauline and his family and friends.
Northumberland's biggest town, Blyth, is in desperate need of a
relief road. It was much promised by the previous Government, and
the plan was submitted before the general election in 2024. Can
the Minister update the House on that plan's
progress?(901383)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
Like my hon. Friend, we are all thinking of and his family today.
My officials have had meetings with Northumberland county
council, which is working to strengthen the case and provide
further analytical work before the scheme can be fully appraised.
I would be happy to update my hon. Friend on those discussions
when I can do so.
Mr Speaker
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
Mr (Wimbledon) (LD)
I congratulate the Secretary of State on the passing of the
Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill yesterday.
Northern Rail has been publicly owned for the past four years,
running trains on tracks that have been publicly owned for more
than two decades. Sadly, Northern Rail still has some of the
worst cancellation and punctuality rates in the country. Can the
Secretary of State tell us what she has learned from her
Department's experience with Northern Rail? What else is she
planning beyond nationalisation to improve the rail network?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his party's support in
passing the public ownership Bill yesterday in the other place.
He is right, and I have made clear to Northern Rail that its
performance is not acceptable. We are addressing that through new
agreements on rest-day working to drive down cancellations, and
crucially through integrating operations with Network Rail to
deliver savings and better performance.
(Bolton West) (Lab)
T4. I would like to share the experience of Northern Rail
services of one of my constituents who commutes to work from
Lostock to Manchester. On 30 October, the 1639 service leaving
Manchester was cancelled, the 1708 was cancelled, the 1808 was
cancelled and the 1839 was cancelled. The one running train, the
1739, was so overcrowded that no one at stations further down the
line could board it. Does the Minister agree that my hard-working
constituents in Bolton West deserve better?(901384)
Mr Speaker
Yes, I am on the same line.
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. I have repeatedly made
clear that it is not good enough. We inherited a railway where
workforce terms and conditions were completely outdated and not
fit for a modern railway. We are addressing that, and as a result
Northern's cancellations are starting to come down, but we
appreciate that there is still a long way to go.
(Farnham and Bordon)
(Con)
T5. The last Government and Surrey county council were working on
progressing junction improvements with the A31 at Hickley's
Corner in Farnham. Can the Minister confirm that that improvement
will go ahead? In addition, the pressure on the A325 through
Wrecclesham is becoming intolerable. Will she work with local
authorities to provide a Wrecclesham bypass, which is so sought
by my constituents?(901385)
I would be happy to get my officials to write to the hon.
Gentleman to provide an update on discussions around those
important schemes.
Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)
T6. The key to improved rail performance in my constituency is
the reinstatement of rail infrastructure, notably the Burscough
curves, alongside improved services to Manchester, where my
constituents are also continually let down by Northern Rail. Does
the Secretary of State agree that one of the best ways to achieve
the high growth that the country needs is to improve those
transport connections? Will she meet me to discuss that
further?(901386)
Our manifesto was clear that we are committed to improving rail
connectivity in the north of England. I would be delighted to
meet my hon. Friend to address the specific issues on that
line.
(West Suffolk) (Con)
The Ely and Haughley upgrades are vital for getting freight from
Felixstowe off roads and on to rail, reducing congestion on the
A14 and providing much-needed relief to villages such as Kentford
in my constituency. Can the Secretary of State commit to a
timescale for their commencement?
I am well aware of the strong case for the Ely junction
improvement and the impact that will have on freight. That is
absolutely being considered as we look towards the 10-year
infrastructure strategy and we consider GBR's stretching target
for getting freight off the roads and on to the railways.
(South Norfolk) (Lab)
T7. Next year will mark the 180th anniversary of Wymondham train
station, but sadly it is not accessible to all. A great birthday
present for my station would be to make it so. Will the Minister
meet me and the Wymondham access group to ensure that we can
deliver that for the future?(901387)
Mr Speaker
I think a yes will do.
Sure thing.
(Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale
and Tweeddale) (Con)
My condolences to John Prescott's family. I am long enough in the
tooth to remember when he was the Transport Secretary.
A feasibility study on the Borders rail link was a fundamental
part of the Borderlands growth deal. For some reason, the
Scottish Government do not seem to prioritise transport links
with England, so it is vital that the Department pushes that
forward.
I am engaged with the Transport Minister in Scotland on exactly
that issue.
(Hexham) (Lab)
T8. I am regularly contacted by constituents of mine who are
concerned about delays and cancellations on the Tyne Valley line,
which is so fundamental to my constituency. Will the Secretary of
State meet me to discuss delays and improvements to that
line?(901388)
My hon. Friend is right that Northern rail services on that line
are very poor. That is exactly what we are addressing through
continued negotiation on rest-day working agreements. My noble
Friend the Rail Minister will be happy to meet him.
(North Cornwall) (LD)
We have just seen the third fatality in six months at the Plusha
junction in my constituency. How many more lives will be lost
before her Department, National Highways and Cornwall Council
finally plan to implement a flyover at this accident
blackspot?
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise that. We are developing the
first road safety strategy in over 10 years, and improvements in
infrastructure like that are exactly what will be considered
under that plan.
Jacob Collier (Burton and Uttoxeter) (Lab)
T9. Branston bridge in my constituency, a main route in and out
of Burton and Branston, is falling down. It was confirmed
yesterday that it will be closed to vehicles for safety reasons,
which is causing significant distress to residents, local
businesses and commuters. Will the Minister work further with me
and others so that we can solve this problem?(901390)
Of course, I recognise that Branston bridge is a vital part of
Staffordshire county council's road network, linking communities
and businesses in my hon. Friend's constituency. In addition to
the £500 million of maintenance funding that the Chancellor
announced in the Budget, there is also £650 million of transport
funding outside city regions next year. Full detail on how that
funding will be allocated will be confirmed in due course.
Mr (Woking) (LD)
Several key roads in my constituency are either closed or
partially closed for roadworks, which are being done by utility
companies who are increasingly getting around road permits by
declaring an emergency. Will the Minister look into that to
ensure that utility companies use emergency powers only when
absolutely necessary?
The hon. Member raises a really important point about the
disruption of roadworks. We are absolutely committed to ensuring
that we mitigate those problems and deal with them exactly as he
said.
Dr (Penistone and Stocksbridge)
(Lab)
I associate myself with the comments about , a true working-class
hero.
Constituents regularly tell me that the No. 57 bus that connects
Stocksbridge to Sheffield is often delayed and does not always
stop, even when bus stops are busy. Will the Secretary of State
confirm that the funding she announced this week will provide
reliable and affordable bus routes connecting our rural and urban
communities in Penistone and Stocksbridge?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend and colleague from Sheffield. I
am well aware of that bus route and can confirm that the £18
million settlement for South Yorkshire will deliver better, more
reliable and more frequent services for the good people of
Sheffield.
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