My east Durham constituency has long suffered from poor rail connectivity, which limits access to job, education and training opportunities, yet published evidence from the Rail Delivery Group and Oxford Economics shows that increasing rail frequency and capacity can boost productivity and attract investment. I welcome the Government's commitment to an integrated national transport strategy and to driving regional growth, but will Ministers please do all they can to encourage Northern to improve the frequency of rail services in my east Durham constituency?

Grahame Morris requested support from his hon. and right hon. Friends on the Front Bench for securing investment needed to keep Power Roll's production and jobs in east Durham.

Despite previous reassurances from Reach plc, it has now announced redundancies that put 600 journalists' jobs under threat. Many Members are concerned about the continued erosion of our media landscape and the loss of experienced professionals, which could drive people towards fake news and misinformation on social media. Will the Minister meet the National Union of Journalists and concerned MPs from the all-party group to discuss this pressing issue?

Last week, the TUC backed the 'Safe Inside' campaign against record-high levels of violence and substance exposure. Does the Secretary agree that conditions are unacceptable for prison staff? Should the Prison Service be held accountable for the health and safety of its workers?

Open access operator Grand Central already runs five services daily from Sunderland to London King’s Cross through my constituency, but unfortunately they currently do not stop. My constituents have endured years of poor rail services from Northern Rail, with just one overcrowded two-carriage train an hour, which is often cancelled or delayed. While I welcome this Government’s investment in 70 new trains for Northern Rail, we need some immediate solutions. Will the Minister urge the ORR to approve the application from Grand Central to allow these trains to stop at stations in my Easington constituency?

From 7 November to 7 December, Northern Rail cancelled 460 services across the Tyne, Tees and Wear region. An average of 20 services a day were either cancelled or short-formed during this period. Will the Secretary of State facilitate a meeting with the Rail Minister to put in place an urgent action plan and address the issues of staff shortages?

On behalf of constituents, he thanks the team for delivering justice on mineworkers' pensions and urges alacrity in addressing the British Coal staff superannuation scheme, inviting a look at energy pilots using mine water from abandoned workings.