Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Local Transport: Levelling Up

Thursday 24 November 2022 · 10 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 8 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Local transport services are receiving over 2 billion in government investment to support bus and light rail services throughout England.
  • Officials are working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to open a new rail station at Golborne as part of a 1 billion city region sustainable transport settlement.
  • The Department for Transport is investing 30 million to improve bus services and address issues like driver shortages in areas like Burnley and Padiham.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Antony Higginbotham
Transport
Context

The MP highlighted the importance of local transport services for economic growth and levelling up. He mentioned concerns about inadequate support.

Question

What steps he is taking to help provide support for local transport routes? The MP noted that local transport services are crucial for the economy, but there are concerns over insufficient support being provided by the government.

Answer from Mark Harper

Local transport services are crucial to the growth and levelling-up agendas, which is why the Government are investing in our local transport services by providing more than £2 billion to support bus and light rail services throughout England, as well as investing unprecedented sums to enable cycling and walking. We continue to work with local transport authorities and public transport providers to ensure that these vital services reflect the needs of those who rely on them every day.

Answered
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Q2 James Grundy
Transport
Context

The MP raised the issue of reopening Golborne and Kenyon Junction railway stations, which would reconnect Leigh to the national rail network.

Question

Can my right hon. Friend update me on the progress towards reopening Golborne and Kenyon Junction stations? The MP expressed his support for the project and inquired about the progress of opening these two stations as part of connecting his constituency with the national rail network.

Answer from Mark Harper

My hon. Friend is a doughty champion for his constituents. My officials continue to work closely with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on the proposal to open a new rail station at Golborne as part of the £1 billion city region sustainable transport settlement announced earlier this year. Local partners are currently producing an outline business case to support the proposal, which we expect to receive and consider in due course. Bids to open Kenyon Junction station were submitted in the second and third rounds of the ideas fund, but were sadly unsuccessful.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Progress on reopening Kenyon Junction station was not addressed fully.

How: Sadly Unsuccessful

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Q3 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Transport
Context

The MP expressed concerns from constituents about unreliable and infrequent bus services in their area, which affects people's ability to access work, education, and healthcare.

Question

I welcome the Secretary of State to his place. Unfortunately, I have had countless pieces of correspondence from my constituents about buses in South West Hertfordshire. Services are typically infrequent and consistently late. Can he update the House as to what he is doing to ensure that those services are more reliable so that we can continue to encourage people to use public transport?

Answer from Mark Harper

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that issue and I am sorry to hear about the difficulties that his constituents are facing in accessing bus services. We are engaging with bus operators and local authorities to help to resolve the challenges that they face. The national bus strategy sets out our vision for bus services across England, including an investment of more than £1 billion to support local authorities to deliver their bus service improvement plans.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to improve reliability were not detailed.

How: Engaging With Operators And Authorities

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Q4 Antony Higginbotham
Transport
Context

The MP mentioned the importance of reliable bus routes for local connectivity and raised concerns about frequent cancellations, which affect rural parts of Burnley.

Question

Bus routes across Burnley and Padiham are vital to local connectivity and give residents a link to jobs, leisure and essential public services. Too often, however, they are late or cancelled, which has a particular impact on those in rural parts of Burnley, such as Worsthorne and Cliviger. Does the Secretary of State agree that buses are not nice-to-haves but an essential service for local residents? Will he ensure that they are given the priority that they need to continue to improve that service?

Answer from Mark Harper

I agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of local bus services. We are working with the industry to resolve issues like driver shortages, which have led to reduced or cancelled services. The Government are investing substantially to improve bus services; £30 million of funding has been allocated for improvements in Lancashire.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to address cancellations and ensure priority were not detailed.

How: Working With The Industry

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Q5 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Taxation Transport
Context

The MP raised concerns about the potential impact of VAT on taxi services, which could harm an essential sector providing vital services.

Question

The taxi and private hire sector provides vital services in many parts of the country, but it now faces the prospect of VAT on fares, which could have a damaging effect. I raised the issue at the last Transport questions and sought a meeting with a Minister, but the industry was offered a 10-minute surgery appointment. Can the Secretary of State ask his diary secretary to look at that again? This is an important issue that deserves proper investigation.

Answer from Mark Harper

I will speak to the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Durham (Mr Holden), to secure the hon. Gentleman a longer meeting so that he can discuss it in more detail.

Answered
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Q6 Alan Brown SNP
Transport Safeguarding & DBS
Context

The MP supported the Guide Dogs' “Talking Buses” campaign, advocating for mandatory audiovisual provision on all new buses to assist visually impaired individuals.

Question

The Secretary of State talked about £2 billion of investment in buses, and we know that 4,000 new buses have been promised, but will those new buses all have mandatory provision of audiovisual information? I have long supported the Guide Dogs' “Talking Buses” campaign to help the blind navigate on public transport. The Government have still not introduced secondary regulations for mandatory provision of audiovisual information on new buses. When will that happen and would he be willing to meet?

Answer from Mark Harper

I am very familiar with the issues that the hon. Gentleman raises, having served for a period in this House as the Minister for disabled people. I do not have the specific information to hand, so I will write to him and then, if appropriate, a meeting can be secured with the relevant Minister.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment on audiovisual provision was not provided.

How: Write To Him

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Q7 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Economy Transport
Context

In Sheffield, bus routes have been cut and scrapped since the last Prime Minister promised London-style frequent service. The current grant helping to keep some buses running is set to expire by March.

Question

I am concerned about the disintegration of bus services in my constituency due to route cuts and scrapping of services. Will you confirm that the covid grant will be extended for another full year, as it's currently keeping some services running? Also, can we have a meeting with Ministers on this matter?

Answer from Mark Harper

I confirm that we extended the support through March. We will keep it under review depending on what is required. The impact of the pandemic on buses is challenging, but the important thing is to encourage people back to using them to ensure financial sustainability.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific ask for confirming extension of grant beyond March and arranging a meeting was not directly addressed with concrete commitments

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Q8 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Transport
Context

The rail recovery is fragile and there's a Conservative cost of living crisis. Rail users face fare increases such as an annual season ticket increase from £129 to £312.

Question

With the rail recovery still fragile, given the cost of living crisis, would you agree that another brutal 3.8% or higher rail fare rise next month is the worst possible time?

Answer from Mark Harper

We understand the challenges but must balance the pressure on passengers and taxpayers. The decision will weigh these factors, as we announced previously in the usual way.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific ask for agreement to not implement severe fare rises was not directly addressed with a clear commitment

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Q9 Gavin Newlands SNP
Economy Transport
Context

Last week's Budget slashed DfT funding by 30% in cash terms over three years. This impacts net zero transport and regional connectivity despite their importance.

Question

The Department for Transport's resource funding has been cut significantly, causing concerns about national investment. What representations will you make to Treasury colleagues to reverse these cuts?

Answer from Mark Harper

The settlement confirmed in the autumn statement sustained capital spending as previously set out by the Chancellor. We have £600 billion for infrastructure spending over five years, driving long-term economic growth and commitment to transport investment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific ask about reversing cuts was not directly addressed with concrete commitments

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Q10 Gavin Newlands SNP
Transport
Context

There is fear that HS2 could be cut due to departmental savings. The Golborne link has been dropped, impacting journey times from Scotland and northwest England.

Question

Many worry about HS2 being reduced due to budget cuts. What assurances can you give on the current form of HS2 going ahead and benefitting regions outside London?

Answer from Mark Harper

We confirmed resource funding in cash terms, not recognising the cuts mentioned. The Chancellor's commitment to HS2 remains per the £96 billion integrated rail plan with our response to manage inflation pressure set out due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific ask for assurance on HS2 plans was not directly addressed with concrete commitments beyond general statements of confirmation

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