Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Mass Transit Systems

Thursday 11 June 2026 · 5 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Steve Race questioned the Secretary of State about steps being taken to support mass transit systems, highlighting under-investment in Devon's railway.
  • The Secretary of State announced the creation of a new mass transit taskforce to recommend practical ways to speed up the delivery of mass transit systems.
  • The Secretary of State stated that local authorities have been asked to submit proposals by 2 August for schemes suitable for funding through the new structures fund.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Race Lab Exeter
Transport
Context

Fragmented funding, land acquisition difficulties, and complex planning processes have slowed the delivery of mass transit systems.

Question

What steps she is taking to support the delivery of mass transit systems. People in Exeter love using the railway, and Devon was the first area to get back to and exceed pre-covid levels of rail travel, but our local and regional railway is hampered by under-investment. Would the Secretary of State meet me and local stakeholders to see how we can make the Devon metro concept a reality?

Answer from Heidi Alexander

The delivery of mass transit systems has too often been slowed down by fragmented funding arrangements, difficulties in acquiring land and complex planning processes. Our new mass transit taskforce will make practical recommendations on how we can speed up delivery and remove some of the blockers. I am willing to continue that conversation about how we can ensure that people in Devon have a reliable, frequent rail service.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not commit to meeting with local stakeholders as requested.

How: Under Review, Willing To Continue The Conversation

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Q2 Steve Race Lab Exeter
Transport
Context

The closure of the B3191 at Cleeve Hill in Tiverton and Minehead has caused significant disruption to emergency access and local economy.

Question

Will the Secretary of State commit to addressing this gap through the new structures fund?

Answer from Heidi Alexander

We have asked local authorities to come forward with proposals by 2 August for schemes that they think might be suitable for funding. We will look at all those applications carefully because I know the impact that disruption on the roads has on local communities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not commit to addressing the specific road closure issue through the new structures fund.

How: Under Review

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Q3 Rachel Gilmour Lib Dem Tiverton and Minehead
Transport
Context

The Labour party increased the bus fare cap by 50% from £2 to £3. The Mayor of Greater Manchester had a different approach.

Question

Does she agree with the current Prime Minister or the man she is trying to make the next Prime Minister on the Conservatives' £2 bus fare cap?

Answer from Heidi Alexander

Funding provided by this Government has been used to enable a more generous bus fare cap in the Greater Manchester city region, and it is right that we equip local leaders to take decisions that are right for their residents.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not explicitly state her position on the £2 bus fare cap across the country.

How: Under Review

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Q4 Richard Holden Con Basildon and Billericay
Transport
Context

The Greater Manchester Mayor spent £35,000 of taxpayers' money repainting a train.

Question

How closely does this expensive paint job with nothing behind it resemble Labour's ideas for mass transit?

Answer from Heidi Alexander

We have launched the brand-new livery and train designs, but more importantly than that, I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that train services under public control are more reliable and have fewer cancellations than those still in the private sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not address the value of repainting trains with taxpayer money.

How: Under Review

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Q5 Richard Holden Con Basildon and Billericay
Transport
Context

Labour's plans include bringing train operating companies back into public ownership.

Question

What is her view on Labour's ideas for mass transit?

Answer from Heidi Alexander

We are renationalising the railways, bringing the train operating companies back into public ownership. Train services under public control are more reliable and have fewer cancellations than those still in the private sector.

Answered
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