Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Transport Decarbonisation

Thursday 16 December 2021 · 2 questions

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

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department took steps to facilitate decarbonisation of public transport and the wider travel sector in line with the Government's net zero target.
  • Deidre Brock wished Mr. Speaker and his team a merry Christmas.
  • Discussion included Scottish Government investment in electrification and new rail lines, and concerns over money leaving the Scottish rail system due to Network Rail access charges.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Context

The question arises in the context of the UK government's commitment to achieving net zero emissions. The specific focus is on steps taken by the Department to facilitate decarbonisation.

Question

What recent steps his Department has taken to facilitate decarbonisation of (a) public transport and (b) the wider travel sector in line with the Government's net zero target.

Answer from Trudy Harrison

Our world-leading transport decarbonisation plan sets out the Government's commitments and the actions needed to decarbonise transport, putting the sector on the pathway to net zero.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific steps or details about recent actions taken by the Department to facilitate decarbonisation.

How: Hedging Language

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Context

The question pertains to the substantial investment by the Scottish Government into electrification and new rail lines, while large sums are being paid out as access charges to Network Rail.

Question

A merry Christmas to you and your team, Mr. Speaker. Considerable Scottish Government investment is going into electrification and new rail lines, but hundreds of millions of pounds are leaving the Scottish rail system every year to pay Network Rail access charges. Does the Minister agree that one of the top priorities for the new Great British Railways must be a review of the system in which Scotland's railways pay a massive premium simply to run services?

Answer from Trudy Harrison

Access charging will remain with GBR, but we can certainly arrange a meeting if that might be helpful.

Not addressed: The answer does not address the question about reviewing the access charge system for Scotland's railways and instead offers a vague suggestion of a potential future meeting.

How: Change Of Subject, Vague Promise

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