Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Transport Infrastructure Funding

Tuesday 11 February 2020 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Transport infrastructure funding is a central part of the UK Government's ambition to level up and spread opportunity across the country.
  • The Minister acknowledges the importance of relieving congestion at strategic crossing points in Lancashire and confirms that his constituency benefited from a 30 million investment last year.
  • The Government has announced a 5 billion package to support local transport infrastructure, including buses, to boost local economies and improve quality of life.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nicola Richards
Economy Transport
Context

The MP inquired about the government's plans to improve transport infrastructure across the UK.

Question

What steps he is taking to allocate funding for improved transport infrastructure throughout the UK?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Better transport is central to our ambition to level up and spread opportunity across the United Kingdom. That is why the Chancellor will be unveiling, alongside his Budget, the national infrastructure strategy, which will set out further details of our plan to increase capital investment to record levels and transform the UK's infrastructure.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific funding amounts or timelines not provided

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Q2 Katherine Fletcher
Economy Transport
Context

The MP highlighted the need for additional bridges across the River Ribble and Douglas in Lancashire to relieve congestion.

Question

South of Preston, there is only a single crossing of the River Ribble and a single-track bridge crossing the River Douglas, creating massive choke points for the residents and workers of Lancashire. Will my right hon. Friend consider additional bridges at these crossing points, which are strategically important for the whole of Lancashire as well as South Ribble?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the importance of relieving congestion for improving day-to-day quality of life and driving economic growth. I am pleased that last year her constituency benefited from a £30 million investment to do just that. But there is always more we can do, and I would urge her to consider the Department for Transport's pinch points fund.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment on additional bridges specifically

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Q3 Alicia Kearns Con Rutland and Stamford
Economy Employment Transport
Context

The MP inquired about local transport investments, specifically for Melton Mowbray's thriving food manufacturing sector.

Question

Places such as Melton Mowbray in my constituency have very low unemployment thanks to a thriving food manufacturing sector and the business-friendly policies of this Government, but we need to see wages rise locally. What investment has my right hon. Friend's Department made to make sure that local councils can provide the transport needed, particularly buses, so that people can get to work and revitalise our high streets?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I am delighted to hear about the economic growth that is happening in my hon. Friend's constituency. I know that her local councils are a key part of driving that. I am pleased to say that the Government announced today a £5 billion package to support local transport infrastructure such as buses and cycleways, alongside our existing £3.6 billion towns fund, which 16 different places across the east midlands have benefited from.

Answered
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Q4 Nicola Richards
Transport
Context

The MP discussed Andy Street's vision to revolutionise transport networks in the West Midlands, including HS2 and expanding metro systems.

Question

Andy Street's vision to revolutionise our transport networks in the west midlands, coupled with the continuation of the HS2 project, will hugely benefit my constituents in West Bromwich East, especially those in Great Barr. The vision that Andy set out only last week included the expansion of the West Midlands Metro system. Ahead of the Budget next month, will my right hon. Friend look at what further funding can be made available to level up our transport infrastructure in the west midlands?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the importance of local intra-city transportation. Obviously the Prime Minister will be making a statement later about national infrastructure. We heard what Andy Street had to say. We are engaging with the Mayor on his exciting plans for intra-city transport and the expansion of the metro line in the west midlands area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific additional funding committed

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Q5 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Transport
Context

The MP expressed concern over the lack of investment in station improvements, electrification, and level crossing issues in his constituency.

Question

May I press the Chief Secretary on infrastructure funding for south Wales, and particularly our railways? I have been asking for three years for additional investment in station improvements, electrification and the level crossing issue in my constituency. If there is any additional funding for infrastructure, please do not forget Wales.

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I am happy to tell the hon. Gentleman that this Government are committed to improving transport infrastructure across the United Kingdom. Obviously, some matters are devolved. Network Rail has a £48 billion plan for rail infrastructure. I would be happy to hear from him about the specific projects that he is interested in taking up with it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No additional funding promised specifically for Wales

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Q6 Judith Cummins Lab Bradford South
Transport
Context

The MP raised concerns about reports that the Bradford city centre stop might be dropped from the Northern Powerhouse Rail route.

Question

Reports over the weekend that the Bradford city centre stop is to be dropped from the Northern Powerhouse Rail route are extremely concerning. Given the importance of NPR to any improved transport infrastructure, can the Minister confirm here today that the Government's preferred route still includes Bradford?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I am a passionate believer in improving east-west connectivity across the north. I am pleased to say that I met the leader of Bradford Council just the other week. Bradford has an exciting future as one of the younger cities in the country. I believe that the plans that NPR has put forward include Bradford. We are happy to look at those. Transport for the North is actively engaging with local stakeholders on the various routes for improving connectivity between Manchester and Leeds, and that includes Bradford city centre.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No concrete confirmation given

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Q7 Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim
Transport Northern Ireland Scotland
Context

The MP inquired about the feasibility study promised by the Prime Minister on a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Question

What progress has been made on the feasibility study on a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland, as promised by the Prime Minister? More immediately, have there been any discussions with the Scottish Government on the upgrading of the A75—an important road link to Northern Ireland and important to the economic corridor in south-west Scotland?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The Prime Minister is passionate about improving connectivity across the United Kingdom. As my right hon. Friend the Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) will know, that is one particular project that the Prime Minister has expressed interest in and he can assume that we are busy at work fleshing out what it might look like.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No concrete progress reported on feasibility study or A75 upgrade discussions

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