Topical Questions

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. When there are delays at the port of Dover, whether due to weather, strikes or the French, the impact on local jobs, businesses and residents is absolutely enormous. I welcome the £45-million levelling-up fund investment in our local campaign to keep Dover clear.

Question

The Law Society of Scotland, the RMT and others have all expressed concerns about the Seafarers' Wages Bill only covering services that dock in our port 120 times a year. That threshold is so high that several services will not be covered. Why will the Minister not listen to their concerns and reduce that threshold, thereby protecting more seafarers?

Question

Despite more than £2 billion of support for buses from the Government during the pandemic, my right hon. Friend will be aware that the well-used and popular route 41 has suffered a massive reduction of service across my constituency. The local authority was made aware of plans to reduce the service in May 2022. However, my constituents still do not have a replacement service and are unable to access healthcare, jobs and education. Will my right hon. Friend meet me urgently to work out what more we can do to encourage local authorities to keep those vital bus services going?

Question

Cuts to local bus services have left some of the most deprived communities in my constituency, including the Beechwood and Noctorum estates, effectively cut off from the wider Wirral at evenings and weekends. Many constituents now find it almost impossible to reach Arrowe Park Hospital by public transport. Will the Minister commit to increasing funding for local transport authorities so they can guarantee that no one is left behind by cuts to local services? Will he commit to a review of the Bus Service Act 2017, to allow the creation of municipal bus services that serve the needs of local communities?

Question

The commitment in the Williams-Shapps plan to reform the structure of rail fares has particular resonance for commuters in Swindon, who have historically endured disproportionately high rail fares for journeys to London compared with those in Didcot, Bath and Bristol. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that, in any forthcoming legislation, those plans will be brought to fruition? Is the Treasury supportive of them?

Question

The impact assessment for the anti-strikes Bill stated that on a strike day last year, 20% of rail services were still operational. Clearly, the Tories think that 20% is too low, but to a layman, that is a minimum service. What minimum service will they impose on workers under threat of sack?

Question

The Liberal Democrat and Labour authorities in Cambridgeshire are introducing the country's most draconian congestion charge. They claim that they are being forced to do this by the Department for Transport, which supposedly rejected Cambridgeshire's bid for bus funding because they were not committed to road charging. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that this is untrue and that the Department did not require Cambridgeshire to commit to congestion charging to secure bus funding?

Question

The north has one third of the levelling-up funding, yet train and bus services are a fraction of what they were. Every train service between Barnsley and Manchester is cancelled or delayed today and it takes two buses to get from neighbouring Rotherham to Elsecar. Can the Minister explain to my constituents who cannot rely on public transport how he can possibly think that the Government are levelling up?

Question

In thanking the roads Minister for visiting Kettering in December to promote the £2 bus fare scheme, I ask him when National Highways will complete its planning development work on the proposed junction 10A on the A14 at Kettering so that it can be submitted for potential inclusion in road investment strategy 3?

Question

This week there were media reports that an 87-year-old south London resident has been unable to attend her hospital appointments since Southeastern made changes and cuts to its timetable. My social media is inundated with complaints of overcrowding, cancellations and continual delays on Southeastern services. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the new timetable on reliability?

Question

Tomorrow I will be meeting Nottingham City Transport to discuss the new £2 single bus fare. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that—coupled with the recent £11.4 million grant to Nottingham to support bus services, including the Lime Line services and 53 and 39 buses that run through my constituency—there is no better time for Gedling residents to take the bus for work and leisure?

Question

The Conservatives' promise of great bus services for everyone everywhere is clearly another empty promise. The Minister was right that the only way to solve this is through the devolution of powers and funds to places such as Chester. Will he therefore urge the Secretary of State to take seriously the devolution bid put forward by Cheshire and Warrington, so that we can get buses going where Cestrians need them?

Question

I am working with the Stonehouse company BorgWarner in Stroud to raise the profile of hydrogen combustion engines and the need to ensure that they are considered compliant with the upcoming zero-emission vehicle mandate and vehicle requirements from 2035. Will my right hon. Friend agree to visit this important local provider of hundreds of skilled jobs and apprenticeships to learn more about its world-leading work?

Question

I am concerned about the levelling-up fund bid for Pencoed level crossing being rejected. Previous Rail Ministers promised this was key to closing the level crossing and unleashing potential for increased services. Will the Minister meet me so we can resolve this issue and secure funding?

Question

Building on previous comments about £2 bus fares, my Cornforth constituents must take two buses and change at Ferryhill to reach their local supermarket. What can be done to help them? Will the Minister meet me to discuss this further?

Question

Reddish South and Denton stations receive just one weekly train. The restoring your railway business case is pending at Heaton Norris junction. Can I meet the Rail Minister to highlight this line's potential for south-east Manchester growth?

Question

As my hon. Friend will know, National Highways has now submitted a DCO on the construction of the lower Thames crossing. Who will assess the accuracy of its benefit-cost ratio across Government? Will this still represent value for money?

Question

When will the Secretary of State sort out the Rhondda tunnel funding? When can I bring him down my hole so he can see it?