Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Transport for London: Long-term Funding Settlement

Thursday 13 October 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Bob Blackman asked about recent discussions on Transport for London's progress in making agreed savings under the long-term funding settlement.
  • The Minister stated that the August settlement provides a funding framework until March 2024, giving certainty on transport in London.
  • Bob Blackman also commemorated the tragedy at Harrow & Wealdstone station, which occurred 70 years ago.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Transport
Context

The question stems from concerns over the progress of Transport for London in making agreed savings under a long-term funding settlement.

Question

What recent discussions has she had with Transport for London on its progress on making the agreed savings under the long-term funding settlement of 30 August 2022?

Answer from Katherine Fletcher

This is not remotely intimidating! The longer-term settlement agreed with the Mayor in August sets a framework for Government funding until March 2024 and gives certainty on transport in London. It is based on commitments made by the Mayor during previous agreements and it is now down to the Mayor and Transport for London to deliver. Progress under the most recent funding settlement will be regularly monitored to ensure fairness to the national taxpayer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about recent discussions was not addressed, only general monitoring mentioned.

How: This Is Not Remotely Intimidating!

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Q2 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Transport
Context

The MP commemorates a tragic event at Harrow & Wealdstone station and questions the Mayor's commitment to delivering £500 million in savings as part of the TfL funding settlement.

Question

I thank the Minister for that answer. May I also commemorate the tragedy that took place 70 years ago last weekend at Harrow & Wealdstone station, in my constituency? A number of events were held in Harrow to commemorate that event, and I thank the Minister of State, Department for Transport, the hon. Member for Torbay (Kevin Foster) for mentioning it. On the long-term settlement for TfL, the Mayor has committed £500 million-worth of savings, but thus far we have heard nothing about what savings are to be made, and it appears that no progress has been made. Will the Under-Secretary commit to holding the Mayor to account and making sure that those savings are resolved before that funding is provided to TfL?

Answer from Katherine Fletcher

The long-term funding settlement does not include a condition that requires the Mayor to make or report on specific savings targets. It is for the Mayor and TfL to deliver within the funding outlined in the settlement, which provides security until March 2024 and is the fifth package of support the Government have provided to TfL for covid recovery. I remind the House that TfL was originally set up to be independent of central government in terms of its income and spend. The current settlement returns to that model as a whole, and it is for the London Mayor to decide how he controls his costs and looks for efficiencies within TfL. We will continue to monitor his progress to ensure that taxpayers' money is used fairly to support London's commuters.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about holding the Mayor accountable was not addressed, only general monitoring mentioned.

How: It Does Not Include A Condition, It Is For The Mayor And Tfl

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