Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Walking and Cycling

Thursday 3 December 2020 · 6 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are investing 2 billion in active travel over the next five years.
  • Warwick and Leamington is being considered for an e-bike trial with 257 million of funding available in 2021-22.
  • Cycling and walking policy in Denbighshire and Wrexham is a devolved matter for the Welsh Government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Pauline Latham Con
Transport
Context

The MP is concerned about the support provided to local authorities to increase levels of cycling and walking.

Question

What support his Department is providing to local authorities to increase levels of cycling and walking?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

The Government are investing £2 billion in active travel over the next five years, which is the biggest ever boost for cycling and walking.

Answered
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Q2 Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington
Transport
Context

The MP references a government document promising an e-bike trial scheme but notes only £1 million has been found so far.

Question

In the Government's document “Gear change: a bold vision for cycling and walking”, they promised a trial scheme for boosting the use of electric bikes, yet they have only found £1 million for that so far. When will more funds be forthcoming, and may I urge the Minister to consider Warwick and Leamington as the perfect place to undertake trials?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

Warwick and Leamington is a truly beautiful constituency, and I agree that it is almost perfect for an e-bike trial. We have £257 million of funding in 2021-22, which will enable key actions from the long-term plan, and we can look forward to more announcements on this shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: When additional funds for e-bike trials would be forthcoming

How: Shortly

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Q3 Simon Baynes
Wales
Context

The MP praises Denbighshire and Wrexham councils for their work in encouraging walking and cycling around the Llangollen canal.

Question

Will the Minister join me in praising Denbighshire and Wrexham councils and the Canal and River Trust for their work in encouraging walking and cycling by the Llangollen canal and for promoting those activities in the newly announced master plan for the Trevor basin and surrounding area, in our world heritage site in Clwyd South?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

Cycling and walking policy is a devolved matter for the Welsh Government, but I am happy to congratulate those councils and the Canal and River Trust on their work in and around this globally significant site and the canal world heritage site. We will follow in the steps of Thomas Telford, who designed the beautiful aqueduct there, to deliver high-quality cycling and walking infrastructure for future generations with the £2 billion that I just mentioned.

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Q4 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Transport
Context

The MP is concerned about the need for Greater Manchester to obtain additional traffic enforcement powers.

Question

Active travel funding is one side of the equation, and a lot is starting to be achieved from that, but authorities in Greater Manchester also need to obtain powers to ensure that this new infrastructure and the roads generally can function well. One example is around moving traffic offences, giving Greater Manchester London-style enforcement powers to keep roads moving efficiently for all users. When will the Government commence the remaining elements of part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004, as set out in the Department's “Gear change” publication in July?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

I know that the hon. Gentleman is passionate about all things active travel. He will doubtless be pleased that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been allocated over £18 million in the two tranches of the active travel fund this year, and 143 “Fix Your Bike” vouchers have been given to his constituents, but the answer to his question is: shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: When the Government will commence part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004

How: Shortly

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Q5 Pauline Latham Con
Transport
Context

The MP commends the Derwent Valley Trust for their efforts in creating a traffic-free cycleway along the beautiful Derwent valley.

Question

In my constituency, the Derwent Valley Trust is trying to create a traffic-free cycleway along the beautiful Derwent valley, increasing tourism and enabling people to cycle to work safely. Will the Minister join me in commending their efforts and consider visiting the site with me to see the work that has been completed so far and how he can help to fund its continuation?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

I commend the efforts of the Derwent Valley Trust and encourage it to work in partnership with Derbyshire County Council through the local cycling and walking infrastructure plan. As my hon. Friend knows well, Derbyshire has received more than £1.6 million in tranche two of the active travel fund, and decisions for the allocation of that are made locally, but I would be more than happy to meet her.

Partly answered

Not addressed: How he can help fund the continuation of the cycleway project

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Q6 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Business & Trade
Context

The MP highlights concerns about the impact of tariffs on UK bicycle manufacturers due to an aviation dispute.

Question

I did not know MAMILs were a thing, but I have now been enlightened by my hon. Friend the Member for Wythenshawe and Sale East (Mike Kane). As part of support for active travel, we ought to be supporting our UK bicycle manufacturers and retailers, but they have been hit by tariffs imposed as a result of the Boeing-Airbus dispute. I think the Minister will agree it is somewhat ironic that an aviation dispute leads to bicycle manufacturers being penalised. They are also facing the threat of anti-dumping duties being lifted and a flood of cheap Chinese imports. I know the Minister has written to his counterpart in the Department for International Trade about this. Was he as unhappy as I was with the reply, and can he release the figures showing that anti-dumping duties should not be lifted because they do represent more than 1% of the UK market?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

As the hon. Lady knows, I am very concerned about this particular matter and have been engaged with it for quite some time. Fortunately, we are in a position in the United Kingdom—with the funding that the Government are putting in and, indeed, the actions that people themselves took during the first and second lockdowns—where the cycle market has never been as buoyant as it is.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details of the response to concerns raised about tariffs and anti-dumping duties

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