Reliability of Rail Services Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish)
(Lab) 1. What steps he is taking to help improve the reliability of
rail services for passengers.(902835) Samantha Dixon (City of
Chester) (Lab) 3. What steps he is taking to help improve the
reliability of rail services for passengers.(902839) The Minister
of State, Department for Transport (Huw Merriman) Performance
varies across the network and is dependent on both
reliable...Request free trial
Reliability of Rail Services
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
1. What steps he is taking to help improve the reliability of
rail services for passengers.(902835)
(City of Chester) (Lab)
3. What steps he is taking to help improve the reliability of
rail services for passengers.(902839)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Performance varies across the network and is dependent on both
reliable infrastructure and strong operator performance. Where we
have both, as on Greater Anglia, passengers enjoy great
performance, and I am clear that this is a standard for all
operators to achieve, working with their Network Rail route
counterparts. I regularly meet Network Rail and train operators
to encourage greater collaboration on day-to-day performance,
including convening a rail industry summit in March.
With fares up and cancellations at a record high, rail passengers
are crying out for change. In my patch, Reddish South and Denton
stations are served by just one train a week. I would like a
train service that meets our needs, but the Minister seems to
have put rail reform on the back burner. Is that because he
cannot deliver, or he thinks Labour will?
The hon. Member is completely wrong. The pre-legislative scrutiny
of the draft Rail Reform Bill is being done right now by the
Transport Committee. I think I am the final witness to appear
before the Committee next week, so that it can, I hope, report in
July. Contrast that with the passenger-in-chief approach of
meddling with the railways and indeed of a resource-led timetable
to fit the existing staff, and I think it is quite clear that it
is the Conservatives who want to improve the rail system.
Summer has arrived and tens of thousands of visitors will be
heading to Chester and north Wales, and cross-border connectivity
is essential. I remind the Minister of his Government's cast-iron
commitment, made in October, to electrify the north Wales main
line. When will the north Wales main line actually receive an
allocation of real money so it can start work on the
electrification of the line?
The hon. Member is absolutely correct that the Prime Minister's
Network North commitment means over £36 billion of former HS2
money is being put into other projects, chiefly in the north and
the midlands. The electrification of the north Wales main line is
one of those, and it is something I am determined we will
deliver. We are taking steps in allocating project time and
resource so that we can advance such projects, but bear in mind
that the HS2 spend was for up to 2043, so it will not all come at
once.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Transport Committee.
(Milton Keynes South)
(Con)
Is it the case that train operating companies stand ready to
invest significantly to improve passenger journeys, but a
disincentive is the break clause in current contracts? Ahead of
wider reforms that the Transport Committee is scrutinising at the
moment, may I urge the Minister to review those break clause
arrangements and incentivise that investment now?
This is the folly of Labour's nationalisation plan, because the
best performing operator in terms of punctuality is Greater
Anglia, and that one has the option that is coming up. The Labour
party, if it makes it into government, would take away the
contract from the operator that has the best performance, showing
that it is all about dogma and not about best common sense. I
firmly believe that where operators can deliver more for
passengers, and indeed for their workforce, by having more
certainty, there is certainly a case to be made for looking at
those contract terms and giving them longer.
Sir (Kenilworth and Southam)
(Con)
My hon. Friend knows that after decades of closure, Kenilworth
station has been reopened by a Conservative Government and a
Conservative county council. However, the reliability, indeed the
variety of services through that station, would be significantly
improved by double tracking the line between Leamington and
Coventry. I am grateful to the Secretary of State for the time he
has already given me on this issue, but will my hon. Friend do
all he can to bring about that improvement, which will benefit
not just my constituents, but also provide connectivity options
that the northern leg of High Speed 2 no longer will?
My right hon. and learned Friend has been a champion of that
project, and as he mentioned he met the Secretary of State to
discuss it. HS2 is making provision for the project to occur
should funding be available, and the new local transport fund
makes funds available for those parts where HS2 would previously
have been delivered. There is now a great opportunity for my
right hon. and learned Friend's transport authority to fund the
project that he has championed for so long.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
In the five years since the Government first admitted that reform
of our railways was needed, passenger services have gone from bad
to worse, with a train now cancelled every 90 seconds—the worse
statistics on record. With the Transport Secretary openly
admitting that any reforms this side of an election are unlikely,
does the Minister understand why passengers have given up on this
Government doing anything to improve their rail experience?
I do not agree with that assertion. Post
privatisation—nationalisation would reverse this—passenger
numbers have doubled, and £100 billion has been invested in the
railways by this Government since 2010. We look at performance,
which of course we want to get better, but in March for example,
70% of trains were running to time, with 2.9% of cancellations.
The two biggest cancellation failures during March were one
trespass and one suicide, and the trespass alone caused 286
cancellations. Yes, there is more we need to do, but the
Opposition Front-Bench team would have a lot more credibility if
they recognised performance indicators and what parts we need to
deliver, rather than just chucking dogma about nationalisation,
which is a tired, failed old policy.
D1 Licence Training
(Midlothian) (SNP)
2. Whether his Department provides grants for the provision of
training for D1 licences.(902838)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
Although we do not provide direct funding for drivers to obtain
D1 licences, the Department makes available more than £3 million
a year through the bus service operators grant to community
transport operators in England, which are predominantly charities
operating vehicles that require D1 licences. They receive £1.60
for every £1 claimed, reflecting the increased costs faced by the
sector, and supporting them to continue delivering inclusive and
accessible transport across the country.
I thank the Minister for that answer. In Scotland, as across the
rest of the UK, there has been a shortage of minibus drivers,
with Brexit and the legacy of covid fuelling a crippling shortage
of bus drivers. Passenger-carrying vehicle drivers can pursue
careers in various fields, including public transport, tour and
travel companies, school transportation and private charter
services. What more can the Government do to incentivise such
training?
The hon. Gentleman might not be aware of the recent consultation
to reduce the age requirement for bus and HGV drivers from 21 to
18, and I encourage him to speak to the Department for Work and
Pensions. We are working closely with the relevant Ministers at
DWP to have sector-based work academies and skills boot camps, to
encourage greater participation by drivers.
Rail Passenger Numbers
(Beverley and Holderness)
(Con)
4. If he will fund exploratory rail studies on passenger numbers
through the local transport fund. (902840)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
The local transport fund is a £4.7 billion fund that has been
allocated to local authorities in the north and midlands to fund
a wide range of transport measures. The funding empowers local
leaders to invest in the transport policies that matter most to
people in their area, and that could include rail studies.
Guidance will be published shortly to support local leaders in
developing their plans, but it will rightly be a local
decision.
May I first congratulate my hon. Friend on the award of £168
million to the East Riding to improve transport, whether that is
potholes, bus shelters or whatever else in Beverley and
Holderness? The Minister is aware of my championing, alongside
Labour colleagues, Liberal Democrat colleagues and the councils
across the whole area, of the reopening of the Hull to York line
through Beverley. I am delighted to hear him confirm today that
that funding can be used to explore and produce a refined demand
model for that railway. Will he confirm that?
My right hon. Friend is indeed a great champion for this scheme,
which we have discussed many times. I am pleased to confirm that
the local transport fund could be used to develop the new rail
link between York and Hull via Beverley. It is important to say
that it will be for the local transport authority to decide, and
I encourage him to continue to engage with it. Our upcoming
guidance will set out more detail about the scope of the LTF, and
I am sure he will continue with his mission to deliver.
Transport Connectivity: North-west
(Southport) (Con)
5. What steps he is taking to improve transport connectivity for
towns and cities in the north-west.(902841)
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr )
Before I answer my hon. Friend's question, may I just welcome
very strongly your statement at the beginning of business, Mr
Speaker, standing up for the rights of Members to debate things
in this House and the importance of protecting their security?
That is welcome, and I am sure it will have been welcomed by all
parts of the House.
In answer to my hon. Friend's question, Network North will see a
further £19.8 billion of investment in the north of England
following the redirection of funding from the second phase of
HS2. Liverpool city region is one of six areas to benefit from
nearly £4 billion of uplift in the second round of the city
region sustainable transport settlements. A further £1.48 billion
is going to the non-mayoral local authorities to fund a wide
range of projects. Guidance on how that should be spent will be
forthcoming shortly.
My right hon. Friend knows how important rail connectivity is to
my constituents. It will be further enhanced by the reconnection
of the Burscough curves, a project that is also supported by our
hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (), who has her own
campaign for a station at Midge Hall. Given the importance of
schemes that link areas, will he issue stronger guidance for
transport authorities to have better links between each other,
rather than just within their own transport areas?
Mr Harper
As my hon. Friend knows, I recently hosted a roundtable, bringing
together him, his local authority, Lancashire County Council,
local rail operators and other interested parties to discuss how
to further develop the business case for the Burscough curves. He
will be aware that we have allocated that money to the local
transport fund. Lancashire County Council will get £494 million
over seven years, starting next year. I suggest he continues the
conversation we have had to urge the council to look at
developing that scheme. We will be publishing guidance
encouraging it to do that, working with Members of Parliament in
the very near future.
Mr Speaker
You can think of Coppull station.
(Blackley and Broughton)
(Lab)
When will the Secretary of State improve on the timetable at the
time of Gladstone?
Mr Harper
I am not entirely certain—the Rail Minister, my hon. Friend the
Member for Bexhill and Battle () set out clearly the improved performance that we
have seen this year. We are clear that we are integrating track
and train with our rail reform that is being scrutinised in the
House, and that will improve things. We have recently reorganised
the Department, bringing in Alex Hynes to link that together.
That is how we deliver improved performance. We have set out
those plans clearly. Legislation before this House is being
scrutinised by the Select Committee of my hon. Friend the Member
for Milton Keynes South (). We look forward to its
report, which I understand we will get before the summer recess,
to take those plans forward.
(Hyndburn) (Con)
We welcome the £494 million in Lancashire, as you will in
Chorley, Mr Speaker. We have also been having discussions about
what we want to see with that funding, whether that is at the
Hare and Hounds junction in Clayton or just fixing potholes
across the constituencies. One of the important things in
Hyndburn and Haslingden is making sure that our train stations
are accessible for everybody. We currently have a few bids in,
including Church & Oswaldtwistle and Rishton. Will the
Secretary of State look favourably upon those bids?
Mr Harper
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for welcoming the money that will
go to her local authority. We will make it clear in the guidance,
which I hope will be welcome to you as well, Mr Speaker, that
local authorities should very much involve their Members of
Parliament in discussing those priorities. I hope that every
Member in the north and the midlands where local authorises are
getting those funds will take advantage of that.
On my hon. Friend's specific point about accessibility and our
Access for All programme, as she knows, a number of bids were
made and they are currently being scrutinised. I hope that, in
the near future, we will be able to set out which ones will be
funded. I urge her to wait for that announcement. I wish her good
luck. Obviously, I cannot prejudge that process, but I hope that
she is successful.
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
Will the Secretary of State explain why train fares have risen
almost twice as fast as wages since 2010?
Mr Harper
The hon. Lady will know that over the last two years the
Government have made significant interventions to keep rail fares
rising no faster than the rise in people's wages. She also knows
that we have to balance the farebox against the taxpayer. She
will know that, because of the pandemic, the taxpayer has put in
£31 billion over a couple of years to protect the rail industry.
Passenger figures have not yet recovered to their numbers
beforehand. That is why it is important that, as soon as we can,
we get rail companies on contracts that incentivise them to drive
up the number of passengers using the service, which is how we
will reduce the call on the taxpayer and enable fares to be kept
competitive.
East West Rail
(North East Bedfordshire)
(Con)
6. What recent progress he has made on the East West Rail
project.(902842)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
For connection stage one of East West Rail. I was pleased to
attend an event in March to mark the completion of work on the
final section of track connecting Bicester and Bletchley, with
services expected to commence next year. At the spring Budget,
£240 million was announced to accelerate work introducing
services between Oxford and Bedford by the end of the decade.
Following the announcement of the preferred route alignment
between Bedford and Cambridge last May, a statutory consultation
is due to launch this summer.
The connection of East West Rail from Bedford to Cambridge will
cost the taxpayer an enormous amount of money—the Minister knows
that, because he was at the Transport Committee sitting right
next to the permanent secretary when she said so—although
apparently that is okay because a few landowners and developers
will make shedloads of money out of planning gain. Meanwhile, the
latest chief executive officer of East West Rail has scarpered
because he could not stand the heat in the kitchen.
As the Minister said, East West Rail is progressing with a
statutory consultation—having completely fluffed the first
consultation by not contacting the right people—but holding it
over the summer months while people are away. All the time, the
project is being driven by the economic growth board in the
Treasury, which meets secretly and tells people nothing. What can
the Minister tell my constituents about this project?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question —[Laughter.] He was
indeed in the same room as I was when I was with colleagues—this
is an important aspect—from the Treasury and the Department for
Levelling Up as well as our permanent secretary to discuss the
cross-governmental co-ordination that will be required to unlock
all the economic benefits. As he knows—we will not necessarily
agree on this point—I believe that East West Rail is critical in
delivering a workforce to Cambridge, which will allow Cambridge
to compete with the likes of Boston and cities in south-east Asia
so that those pioneers have a workforce and we can keep
Cambridge, and indeed Oxford, motoring on that basis.
Mr Speaker
On that basis, let us go to Cambridge.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Indeed, some are more positive about the
improved connectivity potential in and around Cambridge, but the
Minister will be aware that his colleagues in the Department for
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities recently established the
Cambridge delivery group, which is looking to create 150,000
additional homes, which will in turn create a whole series of
transport challenges. Will he tell the House what structures are
in place to ensure proper dialogue between his Department, DLUHC
and East West Rail?
The East West Rail growth board, which, as my hon. Friend the
Member for North East Bedfordshire () pointed out, is being led
by the Treasury, will be critical to ensuring that joined-up
approach. It is essential that we look at this project as an
economic opportunity for the area. I have met my hon. Friend's
constituents as we have both travelled around, and I appreciate
that there is an impact where there is housing, but if we do not
have a workforce, Cambridge and that region will not be able to
compete on the global stage and we will not see the pioneering
scientific and bio-health developments that we see from
Cambridge. That is why I believe that this railway is
critical.
Bus Manufacturing
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
(SNP)
7. What steps he is taking to support bus
manufacturing.(902843)
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr )
The UK boasts a strong and highly competitive bus manufacturing
industry. Manufacturers have benefited significantly from
Government funding as we work with industry to decarbonise the
bus fleet. More than 5,200 buses have been funded across the UK
since February 2020, with UK bus manufacturers supporting many of
them. UK manufacturers have grown substantially in recent years
as a result of their success in securing orders, supported by
£460 million of dedicated ZEBRA—zero-emission bus regional
areas—funding.
The reality is that the UK Government could do much more. At
Tuesday's sitting of the Transport Committee, Mick Whelan of
ASLEF said that in Germany, they have German trains and in Italy,
they have Italian trains. He said:
“Before they award a Government contract, they look at their
supply chains, future apprenticeships and all the things
associated with those contracts”.
Why does the UK continue to destroy its own industrial base by
refusing to implement similar procurement policies for all
transport manufacturers, including buses? There is too big a
reliance on Chinese imports.
Mr Harper
As I said, UK bus manufacturers have done very well out of
decarbonisation policies. They are every competitive, and I have
had the opportunity in this job to visit a number of them. If the
hon. Gentleman believes that there is unfair competition from
imports, he knows that there is an independent statutory body,
the Trade Remedies Authority, whose responsibility it is to look
at importers where there might be dumping. If he thinks there is
any evidence of that by any manufacturers, he should provide that
evidence to the Trade Remedies Authority so that it can conduct
an investigation, as appropriate.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Wakefield)
(Lab/Co-op)
The UK has a proud bus manufacturing history, from London's
iconic original Routemasters to Alexander Dennis' next generation
of hydrogen double-deckers used today in the Liverpool city
region. As operators and local authorities decarbonise their
fleets, UK manufacturers are ready to power that green
revolution, but our bus makers are at risk from cheap models
imported from overseas. This week, a major UK operator is
preparing to procure Chinese-built buses for tens of millions of
pounds due to cost pressures and because this Government have not
set out a full industrial strategy since 2017. Will the Secretary
of State tell the House what he will do to back British bus
manufacturers and secure their role in this green revolution?
Mr Harper
The hon. Gentleman will know that it is not possible, given our
international commitments under the World Trade Organisation, to
specify that people have to buy British buses. He will also know
that British bus manufacturers are very competitive. The
Government have made support available to businesses through our
Advanced Propulsion Centre and UK Export Finance. As I said to
the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (), if the shadow Minister thinks
that there is any unfair competition with subsidised imports, the
Trade Remedies Authority has all the tools at its disposal to
deal with that.
We back British buses. We have fantastic manufacturers, and I
have confidence in them. In a fair competition, our bus
manufacturers can take on the world. Wrightbus has had £76
million of support from UK Export Finance to support its
ambitious exports. It is a shame that he does not have the same
faith in British industry that we do.
Mr Speaker
I call the Scottish National party spokesperson.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
Deary me, Mr Speaker. We have confidence in the bus
manufacturers, and it is a pity that the Government do not—that
is the problem. Unlike SULEBS and ScotZEB—the Scottish ultra-low
emission bus scheme and the Scottish zero-emission bus challenge
fund—the ZEBRA scheme has been a failure. No spin from the
Dispatch Box can deny that, and our bus manufacturers are paying
the price. We must learn from this, and we can start by
encouraging those purchasing zero-emission buses to place greater
emphasis on social value and wider environmental and economic
impacts when evaluating tenders. The Government must take
responsibility. Will the Secretary of State consider conducting a
cross-Government review into prioritising domestic manufacturing
within existing legal frameworks?
Mr Harper
People are able to put social value into their tenders. My
understanding is that local authorities do that, but they are not
allowed to have a specific commitment to buy from a certain
provision. The hon. Gentleman has to decide whether he has
confidence in our fantastic companies, as he set out. In a fair
competition, some of the companies that have been mentioned—some
of which I have visited—can win against competitors around the
world. If he thinks that there is unfair competition and that
companies are being subsidised, he should give the evidence to
the Trade Remedies Authority, which has the legal structures and
the tools to do the job.
Mr Speaker
We've had one question about buses, and then a second one comes
along.
Local Bus Services
(North West Leicestershire)
(Ind)
8. What steps he is taking to support local bus
services.(902844)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government have provided over £4.5 billion to support and
improve bus services since March 2020. Leicestershire County
Council received over £3.5 million in emergency recovery funding
to help maintain services during and after covid, and has
recently been awarded up to £7.6 million to deliver its bus
service improvement plan.
As the House will know, the word democracy comes from the Greek
“demos”, meaning the people, and “kratos”, meaning power—power to
the people. Well, the 1,200 people in North West Leicestershire
who signed a petition for the reinstatement of the numbers 16, 29
and 29A bus services on their original routes are not feeling
very empowered. Despite a very well run campaign, there is no
movement from Arriva or Leicestershire County Council. What can
the Minister do to help my constituents?
Where commercial operators want to change a service, as I
understand happened in this community, they have to work with the
local authority to replace services where possible and limit
disruption. I would point out to the hon. Gentleman that
Leicestershire County Council has also received over £1 million
from the rural mobility fund to trial demand-responsive services,
and I encourage him to meet it.
(Aylesbury) (Con)
My constituents and I are extremely concerned about Arriva's
sudden proposals to close its depot in Aylesbury, with no warning
that it was even being considered. The company admitted that it
would mean ending the vast majority of its services in our area,
causing huge problems for those who rely on its buses to get to
school, work and hospital. I have demanded an urgent meeting with
its senior management, but what can the Department do to help
hold Arriva to account and ensure Aylesbury residents have the
bus services they need and deserve?
I am aware of this problem, which has recently come to light. I
would certainly encourage a meeting between the local authority,
the bus company and my hon. Friend, and I will assist him in any
way in that respect. I am aware that some local operators, in the
form of Carousel Buses and the Oxford Bus Company, are running
some of the services, but I accept that there is an issue in
Aylesbury and I will help him on an ongoing basis.
Air Safety
Mr (Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
9. If he will have discussions with (a) Airbus and (b) Boeing on
air safety.(902845)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
Both I and departmental officials engage proactively with
industry, including Boeing, Airbus and other manufacturers, on
aviation safety. The Civil Aviation Authority, the independent
safety regulator for the aviation sector, also engages regularly
across the industry. I should point out that we have some of the
safest skies in the world. The fatal accident rate of UK airlines
is among the lowest in Europe and the world. We have not had a
single fatal accident involving commercial passenger airplanes
for more than 29 years. I am determined that that safety record
will continue.
Mr Sheerman
The Minister might know that I am the chair of a manufacturing
group for Members of Parliament. Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Boeing
are amazing manufacturers at the heart of our manufacturing
economy, but does he agree that we must sort out the problems
that seem to have occurred in the manufacture of Boeing's 737
MAX? Does he agree that the faster our regulators work with
American regulators to sort this out, the better for British jobs
and British innovation?
I absolutely agree with the hon. Member that they are amazing
companies with huge operations in the UK and enviable safety
records. Not one of the 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9s operating globally
operates in the UK or from the UK, so there was no need to ground
them. The Department for Transport liaises closely with American
authorities. The CAA follows very closely the work of the US
Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that safety standards
remain as high as possible.
Helicopter Search and Rescue
Mr (Orkney and Shetland)
(LD)
10. What recent discussions he has had with helicopter search and
rescue operators on the adequacy of response times.(902846)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The right hon. Member will be aware that the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency is conducting an analysis of recent incident
data to examine whether the demand for the search and rescue
helicopter service has changed since the launch of the UK's
second generation search and rescue aviation procurement. It is
expected to be published by the end of 2024. I have had no recent
discussions on this point, as the review is ongoing.
Mr Carmichael
I thank the Minister for his answer—he seems to be aware of the
situation—but a new threat to search and rescue response times is
emerging, namely the poor and deteriorating industrial relations
between Bristow's management and its staff. As we speak, members
of the British Airline Pilots' Association who work in SAR cohort
2 are on strike, having been driven to it by a management who are
playing negotiating hardball on salary and on terms and
conditions. Will the Minister call in the management and make it
clear to them that, as the customer, the Government expect them
to treat their search and rescue staff with the respect and
consideration that their skill and bravery deserve?
I know how important search and rescue services are in the right
hon. Gentleman's constituency, and he has been a great champion
for them. Good industrial relations are clearly vital to ensuring
that they operate effectively, and I am sure that the MCA will
keep that in mind during its review. I should add that just this
morning, I agreed to meet the management of Bristow.
Road Resurfacing
(Cleethorpes) (Con)
11. What funding his Department is providing for road
resurfacing.(902847)
(Ludlow) (Con)
16. What funding his Department is providing for road
resurfacing.(902852)
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr )
The Government are firmly on the side of drivers, which is why we
are using funding reallocated from the HS2 programme to improve
the condition of the country's local highways network. Our record
funding increase of £8.3 billion for local highways maintenance
in England over the next decade will enable highways authorities
to resurface roads and fix thousands of potholes across the
country.
The Secretary of State and his Ministers are well aware of my
campaign for the removal of the concrete surface of the A180. It
is now six years since I received a letter from the then roads
Minister telling me that the work would be completed by the end
of 2021. Can the Secretary of State tell me when work will begin
to remove that concrete surface and make the road much safer than
it is at present? Can he give me a firm date?
Mr Harper
My understanding is that the A180 is part of the National
Highways concrete roads programme and that there is a plan to
undertake additional treatment to reduce noise substantially
early in the next road investment period, which starts next year.
My hon. Friend may wish to meet the roads Minister to discuss the
matter in more detail and secure some specific information about
the timing.
As my right hon. Friend knows, Shropshire's road network is the
fifth longest in all the English local authority areas. Last
autumn, he made a welcome announcement about a significant
increase in funding—£150 million—to repair and improve roads, and
he made another in February about the HS2 reallocation of £136
million. Will he explain to me, and to other Shropshire Members,
what that will mean in practical terms for the amount to be spent
on roads during the next Parliament?
Mr Harper
My right hon. Friend is correct: Shropshire County Council will
receive two pots of money, a minimum uplift of £153 million from
2023 to 2034 for highway maintenance and a further £136 million
under the new local transport fund, starting next year and
continuing for seven years. Those figures represent a significant
increase on what the council would otherwise have received. We
will provide more detail shortly about the guidance on how the
money should be used and, as I have said in response to earlier
questions, Members of Parliament will be involved in setting
those priorities.
(Somerton and Frome) (LD)
Somerset is unfortunately home to tens of thousands of potholes.
Persistent flooding makes the problem worse, but so does the lack
of attention given to improving the resilience of our roads. Does
the Secretary of State recognise the importance of
future-proofing them, with specific funds for local authorities
to spend on measures of that kind, as opposed to pothole funding
that serves only as a temporary sticking plaster?
Mr Harper
I am pleased that the hon. Lady has asked that question, because
I absolutely do. Part of our purpose in not only giving local
authorities that significant funding increase but spreading it
over 10 years, so that they have certainty over a longer period,
is to enable them to move away from dealing with pothole filling
and to embark on a proper road resurfacing programme. That
funding will pay for the resurfacing of more than 5,000 miles of
roads, thus delivering to the hon. Lady's constituents the
improvement that we all want to see.
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
Residents in West Fenham recently said to me that car mechanics
must be the main beneficiaries of Conservative transport policy,
given the steady flow of work for them caused by the terrible
state of the roads. A local authority survey says that the roads
are in their worst condition for 28 years, and AA call-outs are
at a five-year high. How can the Secretary of State possibly say
that he is on the side of drivers when the roads are in such a
terrible condition?
Mr Harper
The hon. Lady has just demonstrated why our decision to allocate
a very significant and unprecedented increase in spending to
improving local highway maintenance is exactly the right thing to
do. I have noticed that my local authority is busy resurfacing
roads across my constituency and the rest of Gloucestershire. The
money we are providing will enable every local authority to do
that over the coming decade.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Sefton Central) (Lab)
At the last Transport questions, the Secretary of State suggested
that drivers know what they are getting with a Conservative
Government. Well, drivers know one thing they are getting from
this Government: more potholes—a hundred times as many as there
are craters on the moon. In 2023, RAC patrols attended 33% more
breakdowns related to poor road maintenance than in 2022, and AA
call-outs were at a five-year high. The road repairs backlog has
gone up to an eye-watering £16.3 billion, which is far greater
than his allocation of money from scrapping the northern leg of
HS2. Is it not abundantly clear to drivers, and to everyone else,
that it will take the election of a Labour Government to fix
Britain's roads, just as it will take the election of a Labour
Government to fix Britain?
Mr Harper
I am delighted that the hon. Gentleman has asked that question,
because we have set out our plan very carefully. There is £8.3
billion of extra money to improve the quality of local roads. The
Labour party has not backed that plan and has not committed a
single penny of money to local roads, so the choice is clear: if
people vote Conservative, they get £8.3 billion spent on roads;
if they vote Labour, they get none.
Bi-mode Trains
Mr (Kettering) (Con)
12. What recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on the
timeline for introducing bi-mode trains on the midland main
line.(902848)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
A monthly meeting is held with Network Rail and East Midlands
Railway to discuss the introduction of the new bi-mode trains.
Those meetings include notification of the latest delivery
timescales that Hitachi has provided to the operator, and an
update on mobilisation plans and related infrastructure upgrades.
The aim is for the new trains to be phased into passenger service
throughout 2025.
Mr Hollobone
I welcome the phased introduction of the bi-mode Class 810 Aurora
trains on the midland main line through Kettering next year. Can
my hon. Friend the Rail Minister confirm that the new trains will
be faster, quieter and more environmentally friendly than the
current inter-city fleet, and that they will have more seats and
luggage space, and better mobile phone signal reception?
I can confirm to my hon. Friend that these fantastic new trains
will be not only faster but quieter and more environmentally
friendly, as they will be able to take advantage of the
increasing extent of electrification that we are delivering on
the midland main line. They will have 19% more seats per five-car
train, and they are designed for greater comfort and more luggage
space. Bearing in mind that my hon. Friend is one of the
hardest-working MPs for his constituents, he and they will be
delighted that there will be enhanced wi-fi and mobile phone
reception, making his productivity even greater.
Gallows Corner Flyover
(Romford) (Con)
13. What recent discussions he has had with Transport for London
on the refurbishment of Gallows Corner flyover.(902849)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
I am pleased to say that the Gallows Corner scheme was recently
approved at outline business case stage, with over £50
million-worth of backing from the Department for Transport. My
officials are liaising with Transport for London to progress the
scheme to the next stage of the process, and I look forward to
TfL submitting the final business case for approval.
I thank the Minister for his announcement of the funding for a
makeover of Gallows Corner flyover, but I fear that we must do
better. This is a major junction connecting the eastern side of
Greater London with Essex, and it is where the A12 and the A127
join together. My constituents in Romford, and those of the wider
Essex region, will be disappointed that we are not getting a
fundamental restructuring of the junction to address the safety
and congestion issues that I have highlighted for decades. Will
he speak to Transport for London, go back to the drawing board,
and come back with something better and more permanent that will
put the safety of road users first?
I will certainly go away and write to my hon. Friend on his
specific point, but I reassure him that we are spending over £50
million to improve that particular junction. If my hon. Friend
has concerns about the scope of the works, I urge him to take
them up with TfL, because it is for TfL to develop the full
business case. It is then submitted to the Department for
approval, which we hope will happen later this year.
Fire and Rehire
(Ilford South) (Lab)
14. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to prevent
the use of fire and rehire practices in the transport
industry.(902850)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
The Government recently published a statutory code of practice on
dismissal and re-engagement. The code will address the practice
of fire and rehire, aiming to ensure that it is only ever used as
a last resort, and that employees are properly consulted and
treated fairly.
The TUC has found that since 2020 about 10% of all workers have
had to reapply for their job. And let us remember that in 2020
British Airways tried to sack 36,000 staff through fire and
rehire, which was stopped only through strike action—the
Government took no action. In 2021, Go North West in Manchester
threatened the same and, again, industrial action stopped it
happening—the Government took no action. In 2022, infamously,
P&O Ferries unlawfully sacked 786 staff before replacing them
with agency staff—the Government took no action. I implore the
Government to outlaw this practice. Rather than just bringing in
a code of best practice, they should be taking action to protect
British workers.
After the P&O incident, in which workers were indeed treated
totally unacceptably, we introduced a whole range of measures set
out in our nine-point charter, including the Seafarers Wages Act
2023, which will come into force this summer. We launched the
seafarers charter, to which P&O has now committed, which I
very much welcome. The code of practice on dismissal and
re-engagement, which will come in before the summer recess, will
give workers up to 25% extra compensation if their employers do
not abide by it.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Wythenshawe and Sale East)
(Lab)
The UK minimum wage is £11.44 an hour, but last week, here in
Parliament, Peter Hebblethwaite, the chief executive officer of
P&O, admitted that it paid seafarers £4.87 an hour. This has
been an awful breach of trust. What more will the Minister do to
stop companies acting like modern-day pirates of the high seas
when it comes to fire and rehire?
As I mentioned in my previous answer, many of P&O's practices
have indeed been totally unacceptable, including on minimum wage
issues. That is why we introduced the Seafarers Wages Act, which
will ensure that seafarers operating on regular services in UK
waters get the minimum wage. We have also co-ordinated with
legislation in France to ensure a minimum wage corridor for all
services operating between the UK and France, which will give
workers the wages they deserve.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
It is two years since the reprehensible actions of P&O, and
Peter Hebblethwaite's calamitous appearance in Parliament comes
four years after Willie Walsh and Álex Cruz, the then CEOs of the
International Airlines Group and BA, shamefully threatened
thousands of British Airways workers with fire and rehire, having
refused Government covid assistance. On Tuesday I asked the
Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, the
hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (), in this Chamber to
confirm whether the new fire and rehire code of practice would
have prevented this threat from being made. He could not do so,
so I ask this Minister the same question. And if not, why not and
what is the point?
In addition to my earlier answer, I should point out that the
P&O case is being investigated by the Insolvency Service, and
I await the outcome of that investigation. The point of the code
of practice is to ensure that fire and rehire is very much a last
resort. If employers breach the code, their employees can get up
to 25% greater compensation. The Government have made sure that
is the case.
Topical Questions
Mr (Tewkesbury) (Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(902875)
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr )
Since the last Transport questions, my Department has been
getting on with our plans: £143 million for new zero-emission
buses; a world-leading sustainable aviation fuel mandate; cutting
red tape for small-scale fishing businesses; taking steps to
future-proof the £18 billion classic car industry, which supports
tens of thousands of skilled jobs; and ensuring that taxpayers
can hold local councils to account for how they spend their
record funding boost for road resurfacing, made possible by
reallocating High Speed 2 funding. All Labour has been able to
offer is an unfunded, incoherent rail nationalisation plan,
putting the unions in charge, cutting services for passengers and
containing anti-car targets, taking us back to square one.
Mr Robertson
Given that Tewkesbury is one of the fastest growing areas of the
country, does the Secretary of State agree that we need to expand
the A46 and junction 9 of the M5, and not reduce its capacity or
downgrade it in any way? If any agency puts plans to him to
downgrade the A46 or junction 9, will he reject those plans?
Mr Harper
I am grateful to my hon. Friend—and Gloucestershire neighbour—for
raising that issue. He rightly sets out that his constituency is
one of the fastest growing. He is a doughty champion for his
constituents and I am sure that any agency thinking of
downgrading any of his road network would not dare to do so, for
fear of the consequences of having to deal with him on the
warpath.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)
Car insurance costs have increased by 80% since the Secretary of
State came into office. If he is intent on ending the war on
motorists, what has he done about it?
Mr Harper
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for advance notice of the
question—she wrote to me this morning. I will say a few things.
First, she will know that the insurance industry is the
responsibility of the Treasury, but it is an important issue for
drivers, so I am happy to deal with it. I read her letter with
great care, and I notice that it contains no plan and not a
single proposal to deal with the cost of insurance. Whereas this
week the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend
the Member for Hexham (), chaired a roundtable with Treasury Ministers and
the industry to look at these important issues, which are also in
evidence across Europe.
Secondly, having read the letter carefully, I notice that the
hon. Lady takes a pop at postcode pricing, which is about pricing
according to risk. It seems to me that she is proposing—I am sure
she cannot really mean this—to put up insurance costs across the
country to reflect the Mayor of London's failure to grip crime in
inner London.
Mr Speaker
Remember that we are now in topical questions, folks.
Given that the Secretary of State had advance notice of my
question, I am afraid that his answer shows how out of touch with
reality he has become. Car insurance is not a luxury but a legal
requirement, and it is completely unaffordable for millions of
drivers. There has been a £219 increase in the average premium in
two years. Instead of parroting conspiracy theories about
15-minute cities, why does he not do his job, take action, demand
action from regulators, call in the Competition and Markets
Authority, and act on soaring insurance premiums?
Mr Harper
I will say a couple of things. First, the hon. Lady called for
action. My hon. Friend the roads Minister has already been
meeting the industry and Treasury Ministers, who are responsible
for the industry regulator, so we are already doing that. As I
said, this is an issue not just in the UK but elsewhere.
Secondly, as I said, the hon. Lady said in her letter that she
was looking at outlawing the ability for insurers to price
according to risk in local areas. I am sure that hon. Members
noticed that she has not denied that, so they will know that she
is proposing for people across the country to face higher costs
to reflect the higher crime that we see in inner London, where
her Labour Mayor has failed to get a grip.
(West Suffolk) (Ind)
T5. Will the Rail Minister join me in campaigning to save Brandon
station, which is a beautiful listed building that has been out
of use for years? Greater Anglia, to its credit, is trying to
find a solution to ensure that that beautiful building can be put
back into use. Will he join me in that campaign and, if his diary
allows, join me on 14 June, when we have a public meeting to
drive that forward?(902879)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
I will do everything I can. It is a beautiful example of railway
architecture and it must be saved, so I applaud my right hon.
Friend's work. I recently had a conference for leaders in rail,
at which I talked to all the train operators and Network Rail
about bringing these beautiful buildings back to life for the
community. I have met that team as well and will do everything I
can to help him.
(Blackley and Broughton)
(Lab)
T2. It is now exactly four months since the Avanti management
were caught laughing at the Government —they are not on their
own. They were laughing because they see the performance payments
that the Government hand out to them as free money and a joke.
When will the Secretary of State take the smile off the faces of
the appalling Avanti management by finishing their
contract?(902876)
When that incident occurred, the Secretary of State and I made it
clear to the teams at Avanti and FirstGroup that that was not
acceptable, and their senior management agreed. It was crass and
it was wrong. We often talk about Avanti's performance. The
overtime agreement had been withdrawn by ASLEF, which caused the
start of the difficulties, but it has since been put back in
place. When I looked at the data for the first week of May, there
were pretty much 0% cancellations from Avanti induced incidents.
Matters are getting better and, where they are better, we should
applaud the staff.
(Aylesbury) (Con)
T6. The condition of local roads is the No. 1 concern raised with
me by Aylesbury residents, whether that is potholes, congestion
caused by countless utility works, or simply not enough roads to
cope with all the new houses that have been built. Will my hon.
Friend reassure local residents that it is under this
Conservative Government and our excellent local Conservative
council that Aylesbury's roads will improve for my long-suffering
constituents?(902881)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
I recently met the council leader, Martin Tett, who is doing a
fantastic job, aided by record investment by this Government of
£8.3 billion for road resurfacing and our street works
consultation, which will crack down on utility organisations and
ensure that they work much faster and much better. We are also
giving extra funding on an ongoing basis.
(Richmond Park) (LD)
T3. Every day that Hammersmith bridge remains closed is a
reminder that this Government cannot be trusted to fix even the
most basic problems. Do the Conservative Government have any
intention of keeping the promise they made in 2019 and fixing
Hammersmith bridge?(902877)
The bridge is owned by the London Borough of Hammersmith and
Fulham, which is not a Conservative borough, so I will correct
the record there. There are two phases of work: stabilisation to
ensure permanent access for pedestrians, cyclists and river
traffic—despite not being the owner, the Government have put
money into that—and strengthening. We will do everything we can
to work with the owners of the bridge to make that happen.
Mr (Kettering) (Con)
T8. Junction 10A on the A14 is a crucial piece of future roads
infrastructure to support Kettering's housing expansion. Should
North Northamptonshire Council approve the relevant planning
application this coming Monday, will my hon. Friend the roads
Minister reconfirm his commitment to give the proper direction
this project needs to proceed at pace, to visit the site with me
and to arrange for me to meet with National Highways to ensure
progress?(902884)
Yes, yes and yes.
Chris Webb (Blackpool South) (Lab)
T4. Blackpool is experiencing the scourge of unlicensed taxis
in our treasured seaside resort. Uber and similar companies,
which have no operating licence in Blackpool, are allowing
passengers to use their unlicensed taxis uninsured, creating a
real public safety risk. These unlicensed taxis are parking in
local ranks illegally, taking fares from our hard-working,
rule-abiding Blackpool taxi drivers. What is the Minister doing
to tackle these unlicensed drivers, and will he meet me to
discuss this issue in my constituency?(902878)
May I first welcome the hon. Gentleman to his place? He is a
worthy winner and I am delighted to see him in the House. I wish
him good fortune. The Government have published updated taxi and
private hire vehicle best practice guidance for licensing
authorities in England. I will write to the hon. Gentleman in
detail and set out the particular points, and then we will see
whether a meeting is required thereafter.
Sir (Horsham) (Con)
In Horsham we have a significant problem with car racing on
specific stretches of road. Does my right hon. Friend agree that
there is a role for speed cameras in deterring those activities
and the real risks they represent?
Mr Harper
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for raising the important
matter of road safety. He is right that there is a role for speed
cameras. Decisions for enforcing speed limits are for the police
and local agencies. I know he has raised the issue with them. I
hope our exchange today will continue to put pressure on them,
that the campaign he is running to ensure safer roads for his
constituents is successful, and that the police take note.
Mr Speaker
I call Andrew Bridgen—not here.
(Ipswich) (Con)
I was pleased to have been told late last year that Haughley and
Ely north junctions would be funded, but I have since become
frustrated by the slow progress. I hear all the right noises from
the Department, but when I talk to Greater Anglia and Network
Rail, all I hear is frustration at the slow progress. Will the
Secretary of State promise me that we will get on with these
projects, which are crucial to Ipswich, Suffolk and East Anglia
in general?
I can give that assurance to my hon. Friend. I think his Labour
opponent stated that the Conservatives had not promised to
deliver this project. In October, the Prime Minister set out that
we would deliver the rail junction at Ely and Haughley. It is a
project that the Department is keen on, as it is good for
freight, and for our freight growth target. I will meet my hon.
Friend and his colleagues who support the project to show them
the steps that we are taking to get this vital project under
way.
(Twickenham) (LD)
The Secretary of State will be aware that the courts yesterday
awarded £25 million of compensation to 1.4 million passengers who
were overcharged for rail fares between 2015 and 2017 by
Stagecoach South Western Trains, the predecessor franchise to
South Western Railway. Will he ensure that affected passengers
are not left out of pocket, and get automatic redress, rather
than having to make an historical claim?
I have been meeting the operators to discuss the matter. I am
happy to write to her, setting out the exact conclusion of those
conversations. I am always keen to ensure that passenger and
consumer interests are protected and preserved, so I will write
to her.
Mr (Bournemouth East) (Con)
I thank the Secretary of State and the Rail Minister for their
support for upgrades to Pokesdown station in my constituency, not
least the improvements to the lifts, but the project has run into
a few technical and financial problems; will the Secretary of
State or the Minister update the House on it?
I promised my right hon. Friend from this Dispatch Box that the
project would be delivered, and I continue to give him that
assurance. I am sorry that there have been those delays. This
week, I spoke to the team at some length about the station. My
right hon. Friend knows that I will visit him at the station, and
I will have some more concrete news for him then.
(Easington) (Lab)
How reliable are the key performance indicators that the train
operators are quoting, which the Rail Minister mentioned earlier?
The Disability News Service reports that train companies are
sending unreliable statistics from freelance mystery shoppers who
pretend to be disabled and give overly positive feedback about
the experience of disabled passengers. Does he share my concern
about that, and what can he do about it?
Data from mystery shoppers, as the hon. Gentleman calls them,
cannot be used unless those individuals have the disabilities
that they claim to, but there are wider mystery shopping
experiences that are undertaken. I will happily write to him—in
fact, I will meet him, seeing as he is such a great man—and take
him through the steps that are taken into account. I also thank
him very much for doing what he always does, which is raising
that matter with me last night, so that we could discuss it in
advance.
(Aldridge-Brownhills)
(Con)
The reopening of Aldridge train station will finally give my
constituents the railway service that they badly need and
deserve. I wish to place on record my thanks to the Minister's
Department, the Government, former Mayor and the West Midlands Combined
Authority for their support in securing funding for the project
through the city region sustainable transport settlement. Will my
hon. Friend help me to continue to nudge Network Rail and others
to progress this to completion in 2027?
Yes. It is a brilliant £30 million project, with 40 car parking
spaces, which my right hon. Friend has been instrumental in
making happen. I will, I hope, meet the new Mayor, whom I
congratulate, to ensure that he delivers the project for 2027, as
the fantastic promised.
(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
More people are killed by cows and lightning than by dangerous
cyclists, whereas around five people a day are killed on our
roads by motor vehicles—a level that has flatlined under this
Government. When will the Transport Secretary publish the
long-overdue strategic framework for road safety?
The Secretary of State took a decision on road safety yesterday,
so clearly we are addressing all these matters on an ongoing
basis. I addressed the issue in a Westminster Hall debate
recently, but I will write to the hon. Member with more
detail.
(Don Valley) (Con)
The Labour Mayor of South Yorkshire has been given colossal sums
of money by this Government. Sadly, it appears that he chooses to
spend it on Sheffield supertrams and Sheffield's transport
infrastructure, not Doncaster's. Will the Minister send a clear
message to him that he should spend this money not only wisely,
but across the combined authority, not just in Sheffield?
Mr Harper
It is obviously up to mayors to decide how to spend the money,
but I would expect them to spend it fairly across the entire
region that they represent. Given that fantastic Members of
Parliament such as my hon. Friend will hold them to account,
voters in his constituency and across the combined authority area
will hopefully make the right decision, when they get the
chance.
(Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
(SNP)
New evidence shows that Ofgem's targeted charging review has led
to significant increases in public electric vehicle charger
standing charge rates, which are passed on to the consumer. In
one site in northern Scotland, costs have increased from £315 to
£809 per day. What will the Minister do to regulate the cost of
electric vehicle charging nationally?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport ()
I am the Minister responsible for electrical vehicles. The cost
of charging is a concern to many EV drivers. On standing charges
for charge point operators, I met with the chief executive of
Ofgem, the regulator, earlier this week to discuss that exact
issue. It is one of the things that Ofgem is looking at.
(Sedgefield) (Con)
How is the Minister working to improve the supply of rolling
stock orders, to give customers a better experience, and
importantly, to give companies such as Hitachi orders to bid
for?
As an example, just yesterday an invitation to negotiate was sent
out by Southeastern to five train manufacturers, one of which is
Hitachi, which is so well supported and championed by my hon.
Friend. We have plans over the coming years for 2,000 rolling
stock orders, worth a total of £3.6 billion. I hope that, with
our support, the benefits for train manufacturing supply chains
will continue.
(Strangford) (DUP)
Road safety organisations and driving instructors are concerned
to ensure that young drivers have some experience of night
driving. Does the Minister intend to ensure that night driving
becomes part of the test?
The hon. Gentleman knows that the test has got more difficult and
onerous for individuals; we have made it much harder to pass in
the first place. We look at all aspects of post-test passing on
an ongoing basis, but I will take the matter up with him
personally.
(Buckingham) (Con)
I was grateful to the roads Minister for his commitment in an
earlier answer to working with us in Buckinghamshire to find a
solution to the crisis created by Arriva withdrawing bus
services, but does he agree that companies that have been all too
happy to take a taxpayer subsidy have a moral duty to maintain
those services or give the money back?
We certainly expect those companies to engage with the local
authority to ensure the provision of alternative service. That is
what we intend to ensure happens.
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
(SNP)
The Government recently announced yet another consultation
support mechanism for the production of sustainable aviation
fuel. Meanwhile, other countries across the world are getting on
with producing SAF at scale. When will the Government get the
mechanism in place, and will they meet their unambitious target
of five SAF plants by 2025?
On 25 April, we published the SAF mandate, requiring 10% SAF
across the aviation industry by 2030, and announced the revenue
certainty mechanism consultation. It is an eight-week
consultation. We have been inviting the whole industry to respond
to it. We have to ensure that we get it right, and we will
produce the final result very shortly after that.
(Blyth Valley) (Con)
Moor Farm roundabout in Cramlington is not for the faint-hearted.
In fact, many of my residents have told me that they actively
avoid it. That is exactly why I had the roundabout cleaned and
re-marked recently; however, more work needs to be done. Will my
hon. Friend meet me to discuss a more permanent solution, and the
progress that I have made with Northumberland County Council and
National Highways?
As someone who knows that roundabout very well, I would be
delighted to meet my hon. Friend, and to ensure that the good
work that Northumberland County Council is doing to upgrade and
improve the area continue.
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