Topical Questions 2020-12-03
2020-12-03
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Families will be mixing for the first time due to pandemic restrictions, leading to increased difficulty in planning Christmas journeys.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. With permission, I will set out briefly to the House the plans for Christmas travel. A lot of families will be getting together for the first time, with a maximum of three households mixing. Christmas journeys are likely to be more difficult than usual this year as a result, and passengers will want to plan their journeys carefully.
To help passengers prepare for travel, we are putting in place a number of different plans, including clearing 778 miles-worth of roadworks; ensuring that 95% of the rail network will be unaffected by engineering works, either by postponing or altering them; lengthening trains and adding additional rail services; trebling the number of coach services available; ensuring that lateral flow testing is available at six different sites for transport workers to ensure that they are available and healthy to work; and many rail companies, including Avanti, LNER, CrossCountry, EMR and others, relaxing their peak fares. I have also appointed Sir Peter Hendy to look after this period of time, to ensure that people can travel as smoothly as possible while it will be exceptionally busy.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Commuters in Blackpool welcomed funding announced for a feasibility study on improving the South Fylde line.
The funding announced in the spending review for a feasibility study on improving the South Fylde line was warmly welcomed by commuters in Blackpool. Creating a passing loop on the line will double the number of trains per hour into my constituency, helping to boost tourism and to deliver jobs and growth. Following the outcome of the next stage of the process, will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss taking the project forward to completion?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his relentless campaigning for things like the South Fylde loop. I, or my hon. Friend the Rail Minister, will be delighted to meet him to assist.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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There is a climate emergency requiring urgent action and the Prime Minister promised investment in 4,000 zero-emission buses.
We face a climate emergency and urgent action is clearly needed to tackle greenhouse gas emissions. That is why the Prime Minister promised to invest in 4,000 zero-emission buses. Given the seriousness of the issue and, indeed, the Prime Minister's promise, why has the Government's own spending review reduced the number of buses to which they are committed to just 500?
We are absolutely committed to introducing those 4,000 green buses. The hon. Gentleman will have noticed that, because of the pandemic, a large part of the industry has had to come to a standstill while the passenger numbers have not been there. The money in the spending review is a welcome start on that programme. It does not in any way remove the intention to produce all 4,000 buses.
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Assessment & feedback
Reasons for reduction from 4,000 to 500 buses were not explicitly stated but attributed to pandemic impact
Hedging Language
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Coventry plans a battery-powered very light rail transit system, aiming to ensure future public transport systems are efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly.
Coventry's plans to run a battery-powered very light rail transit system in the city are progressing well, thanks to the world-beating local skills and expertise. Will the Minister tell me what more the Government can do to support projects like that to ensure our future public transport systems are efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly?
We are investing record amounts in better battery technology, including the Faraday Centre research, for example, and money to build a gigafactory in this country—£1 billion, including cash to go towards that. I have met recently with all the manufacturers as well, and they are very much signed up to the Government's new 10-point plan.
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Q5
Direct Answer
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Localised A595 improvements in five Cumbrian constituencies have been progressing well.
I thank my right hon. Friend and his Department for work they have done to date on the localised A595 improvements, which together will improve the lives of constituents in five Cumbrian constituencies. Will he meet the five Cumbrian A595 MPs to discuss a wider Cumbrian transport strategy?
This Department is always happy to support development in Cumbria and was pleased last month to announce £12 million of funding for the A595 Grizebeck scheme. This is in addition to the £146 million announced at the spending review to accelerate vital dualling work on the A66, slashing construction time from 10 to five years, and I understand that a further business case is in development for the A595. I know that my ministerial colleagues in road and rail would be glad to meet Members to discuss a broader Cumbrian strategy.
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Q6
Direct Answer
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The Bakerloo line extension is supported by the public, businesses, councils and will provide jobs and homes.
Even when we have all had the covid vaccine, the country will still need an economic shot in the arm, and the Bakerloo line extension delivers just that, providing tens of thousands of new jobs and thousands of new homes, on top of all the amazing transport benefits, which is why it is so strongly supported by the public and by businesses and councils. The Prime Minister has said that we are firmly on track to get construction under way by 2024 and have it up and running by 2030, so can the Transport Secretary say what he is doing to ensure that construction begins on time?
I certainly can. I have just approved the safeguarding of the land to ensure that it can happen.
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Q7
Direct Answer
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A survey in Ravenswood highlighted access as the top issue due to congestion at Thrasher's roundabout on Nacton Road.
Over the summer, I carried out a survey in Ravenswood, and by far the No. 1 issue was access. In fact, there is only one access point, at the Thrasher's roundabout on Nacton Road. Suffolk County Council has put in a bid to the pinch point fund and is currently awaiting an outcome. Would the Secretary of State look favourably upon this application, which could be a game changer with regard to this issue? Will he also meet me to discuss a solution to this, to make life better for Ravenswood residents who currently have to put up with unacceptable levels of congestion every day when they leave their community to go to work, drop off their kids at school or whatever else it is?
I know just how difficult the traffic is at the Thrasher's roundabout on Nacton Road and how hard my hon. Friend has campaigned on this. The pinch point fund or, more likely, the levelling-up fund, would be the way to proceed with this. That is the new £4 billion fund to resolve problems exactly like the Thrasher's roundabout.
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Three months ago, the Secretary of State committed to take control of bridge repairs. Yesterday, it was announced that £4 million would be provided towards this, which is less than 3% of total costs and a fifth of what Transport for London (TfL) and Hammersmith and Fulham Council have already spent.
Three months ago, the Secretary of State said that he would take control of the repairs to Hammersmith bridge, and he set up a taskforce chaired by the Roads Minister. Yesterday, she boasted that the Government would commit £4 million, which is less than 3% of the total cost and a fifth of what Transport for London and Hammersmith and Fulham Council have already spent. The Secretary of State knows that only the Government can fund the reopening of what he calls this “key artery”, and anywhere else in the country they would have already done so. Why not in London?
This bridge belongs to Hammersmith and Fulham Council. It is the council's responsibility. Secondly, it is TfL's responsibility. But the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: I had become fed up waiting for something to happen between the council and TfL, and when nothing was happening I wrote into the agreement with TfL for funding the other week that it must spend money both getting the ferry service going and starting the actual work.
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Assessment & feedback
The full cost commitment requested by the questioner is not addressed; responsibility is placed on local authorities.
Shifting Blame To Local Authority
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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The grade II listed building at Redcar train station is in a dilapidated state and empty. Efforts are being made to renovate it as part of the town's gateway.
Redcar train station has a fantastic old grade II listed station building that sits empty and in a dilapidated state. Alongside the council, I am working to see its renovation as a key gateway to our town centre. Will the Secretary of State meet me and council representatives to unlock the necessary funding for its renovation and help us to gain the access required to revive Redcar station?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the case of Redcar train station. Stations such as Redcar are often at the heart of communities, and I encourage him to keep working, as he is, with the council and with industry to develop this idea. I would direct him to the new stations fund. We hope to open a new round of this within the next few months, and I am sure that the rail Minister would be pleased to meet him to discuss possibilities.
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Assessment & feedback
No commitment to specific meeting or funding unlocking; directed to existing funds.
Directing To General Fund
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Q10
Direct Answer
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The Government is consulting on the consumer experience of public electric vehicle (EV) charging. Full roaming across networks would make it easier for consumers to use charge points.
Will the Minister confirm that the Government's forthcoming consumer experience of public electric vehicle charging consultation will propose full roaming across public EV charging networks, to ensure that consumers can readily access these charge points anywhere across the UK?
Yes, absolutely. It is crazy, the number of different cards people have to carry around and the membership schemes they have to join. It makes it very difficult. We have more charging locations than petrol stations, as I often say at this Dispatch Box, but people have to be able to drive up to any of them and use them. Contactless will be the way to do that, and we are acting on exactly that proposal.
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Warm mix asphalt offers environmental benefits but its usage is restricted by bureaucratic red tape in the UK, despite being common elsewhere.
My right hon. Friend will be familiar with the benefits, both environmental and economic, of warm mix asphalt. What are the Government doing to ensure that the use of such asphalt on our roads is the norm rather than the exception? It is the norm in north America and increasingly in parts of Europe, but not here. The reason it is not the norm here yet is bureaucratic red tape. Will he take action to cut that red tape?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important point. The Department recognises that warm mix asphalt may provide environmental benefits, through energy saving, lowered emissions and providing increased durability. Authorities should use what they think is best to ensure that their roads are maintained and safe, while also addressing climate commitments.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific action plan or timeline provided for reducing bureaucratic barriers.
General Encouragement Without Specifics
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Crossrail 2 has been mothballed, which puts the four-tracking of routes out of London at risk. There is a need for reliability on these lines.
With the mothballing of Crossrail 2, the four-tracking of routes out of London, through the innovation corridor, up to Stansted and Cambridge is at risk. Will the Minister look at separating out some of those schemes to ensure that we get the kind of reliability we need on those lines?
We are happy to look at any scheme in detail in order to be assured that it is delivered in the safest, speediest and most practical way possible.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific commitment or plan for separating out schemes provided.
Vague Assurance
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Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
The county all-party group will publish a report on the importance of rural buses and the real-terms funding cuts they have faced. The coming national bus strategy needs to prioritize these communities.
The county all-jparty group is shortly to publish a report on rural bus services, which will highlight both the vital importance of buses for those living and working in rural areas, and the fact that real-terms funding has fallen by 30% in the 10 years to 2019. Will the Minister assure the House that the needs of rural communities will be prioritised in the forthcoming national bus strategy?
This issue is of enormous importance to all rural communities. I represent a rural area, so I understand the points my hon. Friend makes. The Government entirely understand the importance of sustainability of rural transport for communities across the UK. The national bus strategy we are developing will set out how national and local government, and the private sector, together, will meet the needs of these communities.
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Assessment & feedback
No specifics on prioritization or timeline provided in the response.
Broad Support Without Specifics
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Q14
Partial Answer
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The Office for Budget Responsibility has criticized Treasury calculations, and the aviation sector is struggling. Scrapping the scheme could affect hundreds of jobs at Scottish airports.
Following criticism from the Office for Budget Responsibility of Treasury calculations and assumptions, and at a time when the aviation sector is on its knees, what concerns does the Secretary of State have about the scrapping of the airside extra-statutory concession and VAT retail export scheme, given that it supports hundreds of jobs at Scottish airports and helps smaller airports maintain and attract new routes, through cross-subsidy?
Taxation matters are, of course, a matter for the Treasury. We have encouraged the sector to keep feeding in the data and its experiences, because all taxation matters are always kept under review.
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Assessment & feedback
No substantive concerns regarding scrapping mentioned; redirected to treasury process.
Redirecting To Treasury
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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The bridge in Hinckley has been hit by vehicles 25 times in a year, leading to delays of more than six hours on average. The constituency received £20 million in road investment strategy funding.
I am concerned about the most bashed bridge in Britain having caused significant problems with delays exceeding six hours and winning such an accolade for Hinckley. We have received £20 million in RIS2 funding. What measures can be taken to expedite improvements on the A5, address this issue, and ensure we do not win that accolade next year?
The Government is addressing the issue by warning operators of regulatory action if they fail to stop bashing into the bridge, and Highways England is working on measures to reduce strikes. The bridge has also benefited from £20 million in funding.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions and timelines for improving road conditions were not provided
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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The Clockfields estate has poorly maintained roads due to a complex legal situation, affecting residents for many years.
My constituents in the Clockfields estate have been living with badly maintained roads owing to a complicated legal issue. Will my right hon. Friend encourage all involved parties to expedite a conclusion to this matter?
My hon. Friend is correct in raising this issue, but I am unsure if it pertains to a situation where the road has not been adopted.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific legal resolution and timeline for resolving the road maintenance issue were not addressed
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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A trial of e-scooters in Aylesbury has seen some irresponsible riders not adhering to safety regulations.
While trying an e-scooter myself, I observed irresponsible behaviour with some riders pulling wheelies on the road. Will the Secretary of State consider requiring registration plates for all scooters to identify and punish irresponsible riders if legislation permits?
We are keen on rolling out e-scooters but also want proper regulation, insurance, and standards. The Under-Secretary of State is carrying out a cautious programme to report back on trials, addressing issues like irresponsible riders.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures for registration plates were not addressed
Response accuracy