Topical Questions 2020-03-12
2020-03-12
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
Bill Esterson
QT1
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The Secretary of State for Transport made an announcement about smart motorways.
I thank the Secretary of State for those comments on smart motorways. The new plan for a northern powerhouse between Manchester and Leeds has been announced every year since 2014. Why would anybody think it will be any different this year? If Northern Powerhouse Rail is to be a success, it has to go right across the north, so why is there nothing about the Liverpool to Manchester part of the route, which is the easiest part to deliver?
I share the hon. Gentleman's frustration. I have a consultation virtually ready to go. I am working with Transport for the North to get that signed off across various different parties up there. I will be expressing the hon. Member's concern to them to get on with that. I agree that Manchester to Leeds is part of it, but getting on with the bit to Liverpool, out to Hull and all the rest is also important.
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Q2
Direct Answer
Karl Turner
QT2
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The Secretary of State has the power to act now before more innocent people are needlessly killed.
More than 12 months has passed since the Government announced a consultation on banning old tyres from public service vehicles. The Tyred campaign and tens of thousands of supporters have waited far too long. I pay tribute to Frances Molloy and my hon. Friend the Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle) for the work they have done. The Secretary of State has the power to act now before more innocent people are needlessly killed. Is it not time for the Government to get this done?
As with the smart motorway point that I made a few moments ago, the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the need to get this right, and it has been the subject of several coroners' reports. He will not have to wait very long and I do not think he will be disappointed.
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Q3
Direct Answer
Justin Madders
QT8
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The M56 was found to be the most complained about motorway in the country.
A recent survey of social media found that the M56 was the most complained about motorway in the whole country. Junctions 12 to 14 are a complete bottleneck, causing regular accidents and frustration for local people, so I hope that the Minister will be able to confirm that among the many announcements yesterday, those junctions on the M56 will also get some investment.
We are very keen, unlike the hon. Gentleman's Front-Bench team, to sort out the problems on our major roads. I would be more than happy to meet him or for another Minister to do so.
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Q4
Direct Answer
Cat Smith
QT9
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The Budget did not provide clarity on the £350 million for cycling mentioned by the Prime Minister earlier this year.
Yesterday's Budget provided no further clarity on the £350 million for cycling that was previously mentioned. As a consequence, local authorities outside London have nothing earmarked from next month onwards for their cycling and walking infrastructure plans. Will the Minister explain why cyclists were forgotten in yesterday's Budget?
The hon. Lady will recall that when it was announced that we would go ahead with HS2, a £5 billion fund for buses and cycling was also announced. Cycling will get a very good chunk of that money and that will be outlined in the forthcoming spending review, but I absolutely understand the point that she has made.
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Q5
Direct Answer
William Wragg
QT5
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A local decision to scrap the 375 bus service has caused concern.
The scrapping of the 375 bus service by Transport for Greater Manchester and Stagecoach, serving constituencies in Mellor and Hawk Green, has been met with dismay. Will my hon. Friend meet me urgently to maintain this important service?
My hon. Friend will know that decisions are made locally for Transport for Greater Manchester, and Greater Manchester already receives just under £3 million each year to support local bus services. The Government have also committed to £5 billion more for buses, which I hope is a cause for optimism for him, but as he knows, I will always be happy to meet him to discuss any particular issues.
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Q6
Direct Answer
Theo Clarke
QT6
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A new £500 million a year pothole-filling programme was announced in the Budget.
I welcome the announcement of a new £500 million a year pothole-filling programme. Will the Secretary of State commit to ensuring that this funding is targeted and gets to local authorities as quickly as possible, and will he confirm that the Government will work to improve road conditions in Stafford?
I am sure my hon. Friend was pleased by the £500 million a year—£2.5 billion in total, which is more than the £2 billion promised in our manifesto—to help fill potholes, and I look forward to working with her and other colleagues to ensure their potholes are filled as soon as possible.
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Q7
Direct Answer
Anthony Mangnall
QT7
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The Government announced a new programme for the south-west and a 2050 maritime strategy.
I welcome the decision on the A303 and the announcement of potential to unlock the south-west. I also congratulate the Government on their 2050 maritime strategy. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can uplift the potential in our coastal communities and make sure their local economies are not at sea?
Like my hon. Friend, I represent a coastal constituency. The south-west has great strengths in maritime autonomy and renewables and clean maritime innovation. We look forward to working with the recently formed Maritime UK South West to create an environment where these objectives can be realised nationally and in the south-west. I would be more than happy to work with him as we progress some of these ideas.
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Q8
Direct Answer
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The Minister in the Lords recently made an announcement on talking buses, and a new Access for All campaign was launched to extend it across the network.
May I warmly welcome the Secretary of State's decision, in principle at least, that something needs to be done about the rules of pavement parking outside of London? Will he join me in urging people to commit to the consultation and, if there is a case for change, ensure time in this place to deliver it for vulnerable people in this country?
May I pay tribute to the Chair of the Select Committee on Transport, and indeed the former Chair, for promoting this subject so much? We are pleased to respond today to “Pavement parking” and will certainly wish to join him in taking forward those steps, exactly as he has described.
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Q9
Direct Answer
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The previous question involved pavement parking rules.
Will the Secretary of State commit today to making sure that every single decision taken in his Department is assessed for whether it contributes to or mitigates against climate change?
Yes, that is absolutely the case. We are committed to 2050 and will soon be producing a decarbonisation plan, which will do precisely what the hon. Lady is after.
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Q10
Direct Answer
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The development consent order decision was supposed to be made by December 6, but there is a delay.
The development consent order decision for the Lowestoft third crossing should have been made by 6 December. More than three months on, I would be grateful if my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State advised as to when a decision will be announced. Does he agree that if the UK is to build the infrastructure that the Chancellor outlined yesterday, we need a timely and efficient legal process for making such decisions?
I understand my hon. Friend's frustrations with the delay. We will be issuing a written ministerial statement setting out a new date for the decision as soon as practically possible, but as it is a live planning application, I unfortunately cannot comment further on the scheme. However, as he knows, we of course want to ensure that all applications are dealt with in a timely way, and our Department will work to ensure that.
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