Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Robert Stephenson and Company: 200th Anniversary

05 July 2023 · 0 other contributors · 3,539 words

Opened by Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Responding minister: Huw Merriman

TransportCulture, Media & SportBusiness & Trade

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Chi Onwurah raised concerns about robert stephenson and company: 200th anniversary in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about lack of Government support for celebrating the bicentenary of Robert Stephenson and Company.
  • Specific asks of government include outlining plans to celebrate and commemorate the bicentenary and recognizing the north-east's industrial heritage.
  • Minister responded that the Department for Transport will support Railway 200, a year-long programme celebrating the railway's impact over two centuries.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Government to outline their plans for celebrating and commemorating the bicentenary year of Robert Stephenson and Company. I also want to understand what steps they will take to recognize and preserve our industrial heritage, particularly in the north-east, and how they plan to inspire young people to engage with STEM fields through these celebrations.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

I am concerned about the lack of Government support for celebrating the bicentenary year of Robert Stephenson and Company. The factory was a key enabler of the industrial revolution, transforming lives around the world. Despite this significance, the bicentenary passed without official recognition from the government. I worry that there is no clear plan to commemorate the works site or recognize the north-east's industrial heritage, which includes iconic structures like Newcastle's swing bridge and significant contributions to global railway engineering.

Government Response

Huw Merriman

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Nokes. The Department for Transport will support Railway 200, a year-long programme of events led by Network Rail celebrating the railway's positive impact over the past two centuries. In the north-east, the bicentenary marks the opening of the Stockton and Darlington railway in 1825, which was the world's first steam-hauled passenger railway journey. The Government are supporting local activities to commemorate the bicentenary through various funding initiatives, including £18.6 million from DCMS for the National Railway Museum's Vision 2025 project and over £3.2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a five-year Darlington rail heritage quarter project. The Department also acknowledges projects such as the levelling-up bid for the Darlington heritage centre upgrade. For railway growth, the Government are investing in electrification of the trans-Pennine route and High Speed 2 to link north and south. Renewal efforts include delivering national flexi season tickets and single-leg pricing across the London North Eastern Railway network.

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