Topical Questions

Answer from Grant Shapps (Secretary of State for Transport)

We have been working with private laboratories, pharmacies, supermarkets and other companies to encourage them to deliver on their logistical expertise, enter the market and drive down the costs. The cost of a single PCR day-two test from one of the large providers on the Government link site has now come down to £60 and a new entrant at £44.90 is now enabling more people to access PCR tests as international travel returns.

Answer from Grant Shapps (Secretary of State for Transport)

We are continuing to work closely with Cheshire West and Chester Council on its preparation of the strategic outline business case for enhancements at and around Chester station. DFT officials undertook a detailed review of the requested further information for the SOBC, which is being considered for inclusion in RNEP.

Answer from Rachel Maclean (Minister for Transport Accessibility)

The Department for Transport has made it clear that local authorities must focus on scheme quality, demonstrating appropriate consultation and consideration of access for emergency vehicles. The decision to implement schemes lies with the local authority.

Answer from Grant Shapps (Secretary of State for Transport)

The Office of Rail and Road has been asked to analyse the data, and when these figures are provided we can compare them to make sure we produce the safest possible roads in the world. From 2015 to 2019 there were 39 fatalities on smart motorways but also 368 fatalities on regular motorways.

Answer from Grant Shapps (Secretary of State for Transport)

The Government has put £7 billion into protecting and supporting our aviation sector. The current policy is to quarantine all traffic, which would do further damage to regional airports if followed.

Answer from Rachel Maclean

I thank my hon. Friend for her support for this innovative form of transport technology. Trials of rental e-scooters began last July and have been a huge success: over 2 million trips have been taken and 5 million km ridden—the equivalent of six times to the moon and back. But the Department has written to all major retailers of e-scooters in the UK to ask them to make it clear to customers that it is illegal to use e-scooters on public roads. Retailers make this clear online and in their stores, and motoring offences will apply to the private use of e-scooters. The local police are fully engaged and have enforcement powers, and they are expected to use them.

Answer from Grant Shapps

I actually agree with the right hon. Gentleman; it probably would have been sensible to start the entire project from the north to the south in the first place, but having looked at this in great detail, not least through the Oakervee review, I also know that chopping and changing those plans partway through is the most expensive possible outcome and does not work out. None the less, we are committed to ensuring that the integrated rail plan answers all these questions, and his point has been clearly heard.

Answer from Rachel Maclean

My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the importance of freight links in our country. Since 2009, more than £200 million has been invested in capacity on the Felixstowe to Nuneaton freight corridor. Through the rail network enhancements pipeline, Network Rail is developing business cases for enhancements at Ely, Hockley and between Ely and Soham to provide additional capacity on this key freight corridor.

Answer from Grant Shapps

The hon. Lady is absolutely right to stand up for her constituents, particularly those who may have special circumstances. There is a process in place for special circumstances to be considered. I would be interested to understand why in the case of her constituent, from her question, it does not look like that was effective. We would be very happy to investigate that particular case, although I understand that would of course be retrospective.

Answer from Grant Shapps

May I say on behalf of everybody how fantastic it is to see my hon. Friend back in the House in her rightful place? She is absolutely right about the changes in how people will commute going forward, because the world has of course changed. I am sure that people will come back to the railway, but perhaps in a more flexible way, and I can reassure her that we will be setting out more details of our view about how ticketing should work, not least through the Williams-Shapps review.

Answer from Rachel Maclean

The hon. Lady will know that the whole House voted for the Heathrow plans, as she stated, but we will shortly be bringing forward our transport decarbonisation plans, which will discuss in full and in detail our ambitious plans to decarbonise the entire transport sector, including the aviation sector. She is right to say that we have increased our ambition on this front, and we are the only major leading nation that will set out such an ambitious set of plans to decarbonise the entire sector.

Answer from Rachel Maclean

I note your remark, Mr Speaker. I thank my hon. Friend for her point. I am not a man in a grey suit, so I can reassure her fully, and I thank her for the massively constructive way she has engaged with the national bus strategy since its launch. The way she has stood up for her constituents is absolutely exemplary, and I know from the discussions that she and I have had how important that is. By October, local transport authorities are expected to provide bus service improvement plans, which should be developed in collaboration with local people to ensure that they genuinely reflect the area's needs.

Answer from Grant Shapps

Yes, I have been working with Transport for the North in consultation to sort out the bottleneck around Castlefield corridor impacting northern rail services. The hon. Lady's representations will be carefully considered, and the rail Minister would gladly meet her to discuss further.

Answer from Rachel Maclean

Morning and evening peak services are currently operating. Passenger volumes are monitored continually, and all-day service provision will be reviewed based on passenger demand as lockdown restrictions ease.

Answer from Grant Shapps

Yes, I recognise those concerns. There is a congestion problem around Manchester that needs resolution. A special meeting will be held after the elections by the Northern Transport Acceleration Council to work with the Manchester recovery taskforce on resolving this issue.

Answer from Grant Shapps

We have invested £2 billion in walking and cycling, the largest sum ever. Last year was heavily impacted by coronavirus but a new cycling strategy was published with support from the Prime Minister. We will say more about this soon.

Answer from Grant Shapps

East West Rail aims to deliver an entirely zero-carbon railway, considering conventional and emerging technology solutions for powering trains in the future.

Answer from Grant Shapps

I confirmed public service obligations were put in place during the crisis last year. Connectivity across the Union will always be a priority.

Answer from Rachel Maclean

My hon. Friend champions connectivity for her constituency well. The Transport Secretary was in north Wales discussing plans with the Welsh Conservative candidate for election, and we look forward to reviewing final recommendations of the Union connectivity review ahead of spending review.