Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Dartford Crossing Closures

Thursday 24 November 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 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The protesters' actions in October put drivers, police and highways agency staff in danger and caused misery to thousands of ordinary people.
  • National Highways works closely with the police to respond robustly to these incidents and to prosecute those responsible.
  • National Highways has submitted a new application for a development consent order for a lower Thames crossing to the Planning Inspectorate.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gareth Johnson Con
Transport
Context

The protesters' actions in October led to safety concerns and significant disruption for drivers.

Question

What recent discussions has the Secretary of State had with National Highways regarding the closures of the Dartford crossing due to protests?

Answer from Mark Harper

The protesters' actions in October put drivers, police and highways agency staff in danger and caused misery to thousands of ordinary people. National Highways works closely with the police to respond robustly to these incidents and to prosecute those responsible. In my first few days in this job, I instructed National Highways to seek a further injunction to cover the M25, to deal with those protesters, and I am pleased that the Court has granted it, to defend ordinary people going about their daily business.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q2 Gareth Johnson Con
Transport
Context

The lack of alternative crossings east of the Thames makes the Dartford crossing highly vulnerable to various disruptions.

Question

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for his answer, and I welcome him to his position. He will know that the lack of crossings east of the Thames makes the Dartford crossing particularly vulnerable to not just protesters but all other kinds of incident. Does he agree that this makes it all the more imperative that we have the lower Thames crossing built as soon as possible, to provide some resilience to the existing system?

Answer from Mark Harper

My hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner for the lower Thames crossing. He will know that National Highways has submitted a new application for a development consent order for that crossing to the Planning Inspectorate. A decision on whether to accept the application for examination is due next Monday. As it is a live planning application, I hope he will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the substance of it at this time.

Not addressed: The urgency and importance of building the lower Thames crossing as soon as possible was not addressed directly.

How: As It Is A Live Planning Application, I Hope He Will Appreciate That It Would Be Inappropriate For Me To Comment On The Substance Of It At This Time.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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