Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Transport for the North and Levelling Up

Thursday 17 March 2022 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Transport for the North's core funding for 2022-23 is 6.5 million, an increase of 500,000 from the previous year.
  • The Government has provided a 96 billion integrated rail plan for the north of England.
  • Diana R. Johnson noted that TfN's funding was reduced by 37% and its powers were curtailed on 18 November.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Transport
Context

Discussions about reductions in Transport for the North's budget, which could affect levelling up efforts in northern England.

Question

What discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of reductions in Transport for the North's budget on levelling up in the north of England?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

Transport for the North's core funding for financial year 2022-23 totals £6.5 million, a rise of £500,000 on the previous year. This funding is in addition to the Government's historic £96 billion integrated rail plan.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not address the specific discussions with Cabinet colleagues about potential impacts on levelling up efforts.

How: Focused On Process While We Continue To Focus On Delivery

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Transport
Context

On November 18, Ministers ignored TfN's recommendations in the integrated rail plan and reduced its funding by 37%. The organization has limited control over staffing decisions.

Question

Shall we try again on this? On 18 November, the same day that Ministers ignored TfN's recommendations in the disappointing integrated rail plan, Whitehall also removed powers from TfN and levelled down its funding by 37%; the main devolved power Ministers have left with TfN is over making staff redundant. Does the Minister agree with the TfN chair, Lord Patrick McLoughlin, that funding cuts to TfN will mean 'down-sizing of the organisation which in turn will result in redundancies'?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

The right hon. Lady continues to focus on process while we continue to focus on delivery. It is not for the Government to comment on the business planning of a devolved transport body. TfN definitely has enough money to complete its statutory funding commitments, and it has far more money than any other sub-national transport body.

Not addressed: The minister did not directly address the question about agreeing with TfN Chair's warning on downsizing and redundancies due to funding cuts.

How: Focuses On Delivery Rather Than Process, Declines To Comment On Business Planning

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email