Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Investment in Rail: North of England

Thursday 11 March 2021 · 4 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial funding for Transport for the North has increased year on year, with 59 million available for Northern Powerhouse Rail in the last year.
  • The Prime Minister's statement denying cuts to Transport for the North's budget was defended by the Minister.
  • The Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to connecting people to jobs and attracting investment through rail infrastructure improvements.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
Transport
Context

The MP mentioned constituents in Fleetwood wanting rail connectivity. She questioned the government's commitment given a 40% cut to Transport for the North's budget.

Question

May I take this opportunity to remind the Minister that my constituents in Fleetwood would like to be connected to the rail network? I heard the Minister's answer to my question, but I do not understand—perhaps he could help me out here—how he squares that with a 40% cut to Transport for the North's budget.

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

Transport for the North, which was established under the Conservatives—has seen its funding for Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Rail North partnership increase year on year. Last year, TfN had funding available to it of £59 million for Northern Powerhouse Rail and of £680,000 for the Rail North partnership. For the next year, both those figures have increased—to £67 million and £700,000.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific 40% cut to Transport for the North's budget was not addressed

How: Changed Subject

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Q2 Grahame Morris Lab Easington
Transport
Context

The MP questioned the Prime Minister's denial of budget cuts to Transport for the North, emphasizing a 40% cut and other reductions affecting Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Question

On that very point, will the Minister take this opportunity to correct the Prime Minister's statement in which he denied that cuts were taking place to Transport for the North's budget? Does the Minister believe that cutting core funding to Transport for the North by 40%, which is what is happening, freezing Northern Powerhouse Rail's budget at £75 million —a third less than was requested—and mothballing plans to roll out contactless ticketing on services like the Tyne and Wear Metro will level up and improve transport infrastructure in the north?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

The hon. Gentleman has been in this House long enough to know that the Prime Minister is always right.

Not addressed: Did not address the question about budget cuts or impact on projects

How: Attacked Questioner

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Q3 Damien Moore Con
Economy Transport
Context

The MP highlighted the Southport to Manchester Piccadilly service's importance for investment attraction and job creation.

Question

The infrastructure that underpins the Southport to Manchester Piccadilly service, which serves my constituency, is part of the plan to bring in £400 million-worth of investment and to create jobs. Does my hon. Friend agree that connecting people to jobs and attracting investment is a key part of the levelling-up agenda?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

Fresh from securing £37.5 million for the towns deal for Southport in the Budget, I understand that yesterday my hon. Friend met the Rail Minister once again to make the case for his local rail services, as he has consistently done since he was elected. I can assure him that the industry taskforce will be doing its utmost to address the concerns he has raised while preserving the core aim of producing a simplified timetable that all passengers can rely on.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly confirm or deny alignment with levelling-up agenda

How: Changed Subject

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Q4 Aaron Bell
Transport
Context

The MP submitted a bid to the Restoring Your Railway ideas fund for rail stations in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Silverdale near Keele University.

Question

Newcastle-under-Lyme is the second largest town in the UK without a railway station of its own, and if the Minister gives my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley North (Marco Longhi) what he wants, we will be up to No. 1. Keele University is the only major British university without a railway station nearby. Will the Minister welcome the bid that I have submitted to the Restoring Your Railway ideas fund that would solve both those problems with a station in Newcastle and one at Silverdale for Keele University? Will he meet me to discuss the bid so that I can show him some of the details of how it will benefit my constituency?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

My hon. Friend makes a very strong case for his constituency. As he correctly points out, the £500 million Restoring Your Railway fund is one of the many ways in which we are intending to level up the country and build back better. The Rail Minister, as chair of the panel, looks forward to reviewing the bid that my hon. Friend has submitted, and I know he would be happy to meet him to discuss the proposals further.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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