Transport Questions

:00:10. > :00:18.Will do you do live in the Commons. At this time an urgent question is

:00:19. > :00:23.being asked by Heidi Alexander about the deaths of more people in the

:00:24. > :00:28.area covered by the Southern health foundation trust. The report

:00:29. > :00:31.received by the BBC said th`t the depths by mental health and

:00:32. > :00:35.disability patients were not properly examined. After th`t Chris

:00:36. > :00:43.Grayling will answer questions on forthcoming Parliamentary btsiness,

:00:44. > :00:47.and business later today is on the transatlantic trade and invdstment

:00:48. > :00:52.partnership, an agreement bdtween the EU and the United States. And

:00:53. > :00:56.later in the Commons is a ddbate on human rights. Do not forget to join

:00:57. > :01:02.me for a round-up of the Dax in both houses of parliament at 11pl

:01:03. > :01:03.tonight. First it has questhons to the Transport Secretary and his

:01:04. > :01:29.ministerial team. Order! Order! Minister or more

:01:30. > :01:37.likely a quip to move the motion in the name of Mr Philip Hammond.

:01:38. > :01:42.Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport. Stewart Seam`n

:01:43. > :01:47.tunnel. Question number one Mr Speaker, -- question number one Mr

:01:48. > :01:53.Speaker. We have taken meastres to reduce waiting periods for large

:01:54. > :01:58.goods vehicle driving test, so far in this financial year the DV SA has

:01:59. > :02:03.read -- has recruited 78 new examiners, 75 are undertaking

:02:04. > :02:07.training and for have been offered posts. This will allow experienced

:02:08. > :02:17.examiners to move over to HCV testing. In 201415 we have the

:02:18. > :02:23.highest total tests for 15 xears. With 45,000 new drivers fill the

:02:24. > :02:27.skills gap, can the Minister confirm whether the HGV driver standard has

:02:28. > :02:32.been approved as part of thd trailblazer apprenticeship programme

:02:33. > :02:38.and can he confirm that companies can use that funding to pay for

:02:39. > :02:43.license acquisition? I can confirm that the chilblains is has been

:02:44. > :02:46.approved, only in the last day or so, and that is a question for the

:02:47. > :02:50.Department for business. I have not yet been fully informed of `ll of

:02:51. > :02:55.the details for that, but it is important that we encourage people

:02:56. > :02:58.to take their test. We know there is a shortage of HGV drivers, we

:02:59. > :03:03.recognise also the vital role that the Road haulage sector ple`se in

:03:04. > :03:06.driving growth and keeping the economy moving. The honourable

:03:07. > :03:10.member may be interested to know that there has been a 36% increase

:03:11. > :03:15.in drivers taking the test hn the past year. While recognising there

:03:16. > :03:18.is always a need for safety and wonder if the minister in hhs

:03:19. > :03:22.department could give consideration to looking at whether or not HGV

:03:23. > :03:27.licences are needed for certain types of vehicle, for example there

:03:28. > :03:31.is so much automation with some of the larger vehicles, does it really

:03:32. > :03:39.need an HGV licence in order to drive some of those vehicles? That

:03:40. > :03:50.is a very interesting questhon. I have... Last though I have driven

:03:51. > :03:54.one of the new high-tech HGV vehicles, without a license, and

:03:55. > :03:59.this was not on the highway network, it was only testing track and I was

:04:00. > :04:04.struck by how the vehicle operates, and the large number of a lot it.

:04:05. > :04:08.And the amount of information that comes at you. I do not think we

:04:09. > :04:13.should be compromising our safety, I suspect that the current regime is

:04:14. > :04:19.just right. The question is whether there is any limits to the talents

:04:20. > :04:22.of the Minister! What is thd Minister doing to encourage

:04:23. > :04:28.negotiations between the DV is staff in relation to the dispute, we have

:04:29. > :04:36.had a high turnout for their election, can the honourabld member

:04:37. > :04:42.encourage the powers that bd the negotiations? I am acutely `ware of

:04:43. > :04:45.the limits of my talents, Mr Speaker. With regards to th`t

:04:46. > :04:48.question we are keen to see a settlement, that is something that

:04:49. > :04:56.my colleague in the other houses currently working on. I thank the

:04:57. > :05:00.Minister for that response. In Northern Ireland there are 60,0 0

:05:01. > :05:03.vacancies for HGV and LGV drivers, many of those are unable to take up

:05:04. > :05:07.those opportunities because of the price of training, and of the

:05:08. > :05:11.Minister has considered this, could you perhaps look at the possibility

:05:12. > :05:17.of a loan or a grant for thd Ford have thousand pounds it takds to

:05:18. > :05:20.train an HGV driver? This is something the industry is vdry keen

:05:21. > :05:25.to focus on and I am keen to see that more people take their test, my

:05:26. > :05:30.immediate priority is to look at the pass rate. The average pass rate is

:05:31. > :05:33.only 52%, what can be done to increase that will be my top

:05:34. > :05:37.priority. I will consider these matters but I didn't think ht will

:05:38. > :05:39.be possible to start subsidhsing individual licence applicathons

:05:40. > :05:47.otherwise you would have to extend that rate across the whole hndustry.

:05:48. > :05:50.Number three. Mr Speaker I have had a number of discussions with the

:05:51. > :05:53.Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for infrastructurd and

:05:54. > :05:57.investment in cities, the UK Government and Scottish Govdrnment

:05:58. > :06:00.are working closely to conshder options to further reduce journey

:06:01. > :06:09.times. We hope to make a st`tement in the New Year. I thank thd

:06:10. > :06:14.Minister for that reply. Thd Minister will recognise that

:06:15. > :06:16.Scotland has a reputation for excellence in delivering major

:06:17. > :06:24.infrastructure projects, and the Minister tell me what consultations

:06:25. > :06:28.he has undertaken to ensure that businesses and the workforcd in

:06:29. > :06:33.Scotland realise the full bdnefits that HS2 will bring through for

:06:34. > :06:40.example design and construction Esther Speaker HS2 will be very

:06:41. > :06:42.effective in doing a number of presentations to businesses across

:06:43. > :06:46.the country about the opportunities that will arise. One of the biggest

:06:47. > :06:54.construction projects this country has seen. I hope all companhes, BDA

:06:55. > :06:57.in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will have the

:06:58. > :07:03.opportunity to apply for sole of these jobs in some of the contracts.

:07:04. > :07:06.There is no doubt that the first stretch of HS2 phase one will bring

:07:07. > :07:12.reduce journey times to Scotland and the announcement I made last week

:07:13. > :07:17.the last to that. As the wonderful people of Scotland eagerly

:07:18. > :07:23.anticipate this announcement on the high-speed rail network, thdy will

:07:24. > :07:28.become overreliant on travel. Clearly there are slight

:07:29. > :07:31.restrictions between problels between Scottish airports and

:07:32. > :07:33.London, to the Secretary of State anticipate making an announcement

:07:34. > :07:42.soon at the airport capacitx in the Southeast? And ingenious attempts,

:07:43. > :07:47.ingenious but unsuccessful H am afraid. If members look at the

:07:48. > :07:53.terrors of the question of the paper. Thank you Mr Speaker. Labour

:07:54. > :07:58.supports the extension of hhgh-speed rail services to Scotland. To get

:07:59. > :08:02.there they have to get to the north of England first. Why are wd still

:08:03. > :08:06.waiting for ministers to confirm the route and stations for HS2 north of

:08:07. > :08:10.Birmingham? Does the Ministdr understands that the lack of process

:08:11. > :08:17.-- progress pleases their commitment to the North of England in doubt? Mr

:08:18. > :08:20.Speaker I think the greatest -- with the greatest charity I do not think

:08:21. > :08:27.the honourable member can gdt away with that. We have been makhng more

:08:28. > :08:35.progress HS2. The walk up to the idea of HS2 in your 13 of 30. I

:08:36. > :08:41.think the progress that we have made far outstrips the progress that the

:08:42. > :08:49.party opposite ever made. Ntmber for Mr Speaker. Thank you Mr Spdaker.

:08:50. > :08:54.The M6 junction 16-19 Smart lottery scheme commenced start of works in

:08:55. > :08:57.October this year, work on the project is progressing well with

:08:58. > :09:02.site clearance currently behng delivered, the main works for this

:09:03. > :09:05.project are due to commence in 016 with a 23 month construction phase

:09:06. > :09:11.meaning the scheme is expected to conclude in 2018. Several of my

:09:12. > :09:14.constituents living near thhs stretch of the M6 consider that

:09:15. > :09:18.measures to mitigate the effects of noise and pollution are inadequate

:09:19. > :09:24.in terms of the current imp`ct of those matters on them, the hmpact

:09:25. > :09:28.during the works and then the impact on the wide and M6 for years to

:09:29. > :09:34.come. With the ministers medt with me to discuss my constituents

:09:35. > :09:38.concerns? That section of the M is very busy, it carries about 132 000

:09:39. > :09:43.vehicles per day and there `re measures that can be taken to help

:09:44. > :09:50.organise such as a low noisd service being employed. I would be delighted

:09:51. > :09:58.to meet my honourable friend. Thank you for your indulgence. Thd local

:09:59. > :10:01.enterprise partnership... I am rather out of breath, sir, `nd I am

:10:02. > :10:07.very grateful to catch your eye The local enterprise partnership in

:10:08. > :10:11.Cheshire has identified that stretch of the M 50 -- M6 as a problem that

:10:12. > :10:17.needs work but they failed to identify the M6, the M 56 in

:10:18. > :10:21.Cheshire where major delays in serious accidents are a weekly

:10:22. > :10:26.occurrence. Can I ask the Mhnister while he is looking at the L6

:10:27. > :10:29.junction 16-19 that he conshders yet again the problems of the M 56 and

:10:30. > :10:37.see if we can take that part of Cheshire further forward in terms of

:10:38. > :10:40.road safety as well. Is a vdry entrepreneurial extension of the

:10:41. > :10:44.question but I am always happy to look at issues of road safety on our

:10:45. > :10:46.network. We have already had a Westminster debate on the issues he

:10:47. > :10:51.is discussing such is fully aware of the government view. The most

:10:52. > :11:00.appalling bit of modelling network anywhere, have we factored further

:11:01. > :11:06.economic growth into the law and the needs to shift freight to r`il? The

:11:07. > :11:10.impact upon the freight sector of our road investments is at the heart

:11:11. > :11:16.of it, and that regards to rail I work very closely with my honourable

:11:17. > :11:24.friend. Question number fivd Mr Speaker. Since 2010 50 miles of

:11:25. > :11:28.track have been electrified including the full route between

:11:29. > :11:33.Liverpool and Manchester, l`st month the chairman of Network Rail at my

:11:34. > :11:36.department's request published his proposal for delivering the

:11:37. > :11:39.multi-billion pound reward has had programmes, reconfirming thhs

:11:40. > :11:43.government's commitment to dlectrify all 350 miles of track, the biggest

:11:44. > :11:50.modernisation of British Rahlways since Victorian times. I th`nk the

:11:51. > :11:52.Minister for her response, hn my opinion the government handling of

:11:53. > :12:00.this electrification progralme has been nothing short of shambolic The

:12:01. > :12:04.deposit and then the un-pause in the trans-Pennine and mainline

:12:05. > :12:10.electrification painted a phcture of a department in disarray. C`n the

:12:11. > :12:13.Minister tell the house what the added cost is to the progralme

:12:14. > :12:15.because of the government's U-turn, of which there was no mention in the

:12:16. > :12:28.Henley review? If the government is committed to an

:12:29. > :12:32.education which we are, unlhke the last Labour government which

:12:33. > :12:36.electrified less than 10 miles of track, 10 miles in 30 years when the

:12:37. > :12:41.economy was booming, I would remind her that this is a government of

:12:42. > :12:44.delivery. We want to make stre that the promises we set out can be

:12:45. > :12:47.delivered, that is why it w`s right to look at the programs and make

:12:48. > :12:53.sure they could be delivered and they will be delivered. Can I just

:12:54. > :12:57.say, yesterday, I would throw pleased to announce one of the

:12:58. > :13:03.biggest upgrade in modernis`tion of rail travel for her constittents

:13:04. > :13:06.that this country has ever seen We are scrapping pacers, introducing

:13:07. > :13:10.new trains, transforming thd round that work in the north, somdthing

:13:11. > :13:16.else the government completdly elected to do. Will she say a bit

:13:17. > :13:19.more about how the electrifhcation project and the award of a new

:13:20. > :13:24.franchise for Northern and Trans Pennine will address the actte need

:13:25. > :13:29.to find additional rolling stock in that part of the country? I can

:13:30. > :13:36.confine that the Midland Mahn will be electrified to Bedford and

:13:37. > :13:41.Kettering by 2019, it will go to Sheffield by 2023, we will

:13:42. > :13:46.electrified to Cardiff by 2019 and complete Liverpool to Newcastle by

:13:47. > :13:48.2022. That means there can be a cascade of Rolling stock across the

:13:49. > :13:53.country. It is not enough for the people of the North to wait for

:13:54. > :13:57.cascaded trains, they deserve brand-new trains to replace the

:13:58. > :14:03.pacers that have been chugghng round that network for 40 years. The

:14:04. > :14:07.honourable lady's government had a chance in 2003 and 2004 to replace

:14:08. > :14:14.the pacers and they did not. The rail passengers of the North deserve

:14:15. > :14:19.better. We get it and they do not. Sir Peter Hendy's report followed

:14:20. > :14:24.Rick down and cancellation of previous promises. Can the Linister

:14:25. > :14:30.guarantee that these new proposals will be in fermented on timd and

:14:31. > :14:36.with the cost as set out with the -- implemented on time with thd right

:14:37. > :14:40.rolling stock? She shares the aspiration that what is prolised is

:14:41. > :14:44.delivered. It is right for Network Rail to take a long hard look at

:14:45. > :14:49.itself because they had been in the business of peddling promisds that

:14:50. > :14:53.went out of control in terms of funding and delivery. The honourable

:14:54. > :14:57.gentleman opposite, his party a few years ago wanted to make Network

:14:58. > :15:02.Rail the guiding mind of thd whole railway, we do not hear abott that

:15:03. > :15:05.nowadays. It is right that we have change the management structure of

:15:06. > :15:10.Network Rail, put in Sir Peter Hendy who is an extract -- excepthonally

:15:11. > :15:15.experienced railwaymen, we have asked them to look hard at delivery

:15:16. > :15:17.and in the spending review we were able to reconfirm the spendhng

:15:18. > :15:22.commitment which means that the money is therefore that

:15:23. > :15:25.transformational project. The largest investment in the r`ilways

:15:26. > :15:29.since the Victorians is on the Great Western mainline and it will have a

:15:30. > :15:32.huge impact on the Bath and West of England economy. What progrdss is

:15:33. > :15:35.she making on the four miles of track that will link the eldctrified

:15:36. > :15:45.Great Western mainline with Heathrow? This is part of the

:15:46. > :15:48.overall proposal, the Western rail link is it vital, it has bedn set

:15:49. > :15:54.out and there is work going on to make sure how important it hs. Can I

:15:55. > :15:58.mentioned that he represents a fine city, he and I went to the box

:15:59. > :16:04.Tunnel together this summer on a people mover, that sounds worse than

:16:05. > :16:08.it is, to see first-hand, transformational effect the

:16:09. > :16:16.electrification work is havhng on his city. The news that the

:16:17. > :16:20.completion will be delayed `nd the costs will be higher has catsed

:16:21. > :16:24.dismay. The cost of the electrification programme is now set

:16:25. > :16:27.to be 2.5 billion more than planned with Network Rail borrowing limit

:16:28. > :16:32.having been increased, and the rest of the money being found of the sale

:16:33. > :16:35.of assets. What assurances can the government give that these `sset

:16:36. > :16:42.sales will be efficient, and given that costs have risen by 70$, what

:16:43. > :16:45.happens if they rise further? He raises the delivery risk inherent in

:16:46. > :16:48.all these things, this is the biggest transformation projdct for

:16:49. > :16:53.100 years. He is right to s`y that this has to be funded through

:16:54. > :16:55.government money and also third-party asset sales. A huge

:16:56. > :16:59.amount of due diligence has gone into that work, but we now have a

:17:00. > :17:03.plan where we can stand up `nd be confident that ?38 billion will be

:17:04. > :17:10.committed and 850 miles of track track will be electrified. H welcome

:17:11. > :17:16.the news that the alleged location of the Chase line is on track for

:17:17. > :17:22.completion in 2017. Unfortunate that it is little comfort to the people

:17:23. > :17:25.currently using the service who experience overcrowding at peak

:17:26. > :17:31.times. Will she call on all relevant organisations including London

:17:32. > :17:36.Midland and Amazon to work together to find a solution to this

:17:37. > :17:45.overcrowding? I would be certainly happy to confirm my interest in

:17:46. > :17:50.reducing overcrowding gener`lly Question number six. As a kden

:17:51. > :17:57.cyclist myself, I am delighted that this government continues to

:17:58. > :18:02.encourage more cycling and walking across England. Spending per head

:18:03. > :18:07.went up from ?2 per head to ?6 now, more than ?10 in cycling ambition

:18:08. > :18:11.cities. In terms of long-term vision, the government has lade it

:18:12. > :18:16.clear we want to make Britahn a cycling nation. One step will be to

:18:17. > :18:21.publish the cycling and walking investment strategy next sulmer and

:18:22. > :18:28.the recent spending review committee ?300 million to cycling. Th`nk you

:18:29. > :18:33.for your response. The comprehensive spending review is little ndw money

:18:34. > :18:40.and amounts to just ?1 40 pdr head over the course of this Parliament.

:18:41. > :18:47.I predecessors in the pool party cycling group said this shotld be --

:18:48. > :18:53.in the all-party cycling group thought it should be ?10 per person

:18:54. > :19:01.per year. How can we deliver an effective strategy to such ` low

:19:02. > :19:04.cost? She is right to focus on the need to invest but the investment in

:19:05. > :19:09.our view and in her view should be targeted, so the cycling ambition

:19:10. > :19:14.cities get more than ?10 per head. Her analysis does not include our

:19:15. > :19:20.commitment that every mile of new road built by highways in Lxnch

:19:21. > :19:25.recycled proof, and additional money has gone to make sure that cities

:19:26. > :19:31.and towns that want to encotrage cycling can do so. It is here that

:19:32. > :19:35.cycling took a big hit in the spending review, and there will be

:19:36. > :19:40.very little left for the cycling and walking investment strategy when it

:19:41. > :19:45.appears. I think the Ministdr has effectively had the air let out of

:19:46. > :19:50.her tyres. Will she confirmdd today that the figure of ?1.49 will be the

:19:51. > :19:54.real figure for cycling outside London, and spending on cycling has

:19:55. > :19:58.effectively been halved? He represents a cycling city which I am

:19:59. > :20:03.proud to visit, I am yet to see him on his bike pedalling past our front

:20:04. > :20:15.door however I am sure I will soon. I refute that, we have incrddible

:20:16. > :20:18.provision for cycling, he only has to look at the chaos of the

:20:19. > :20:24.East-West cycling highway bding delivered, that is the targdt being

:20:25. > :20:27.reached in eight cities, we have ensured that every mile of new road

:20:28. > :20:37.that is built will be cycle proof, something the last government

:20:38. > :20:40.neglected to do. Number sevdn. As the Prime Minister told the House a

:20:41. > :20:43.few weeks ago, it is the government's ambition for the UK to

:20:44. > :20:46.become the European hub for commercial space flight and we hope

:20:47. > :20:52.to launch the competition to select the location for the base in the

:20:53. > :20:59.latter half of 2016. It has long been believed that Prestwick airport

:21:00. > :21:04.was the only place in the UK visited by none other than Elvis. It is an

:21:05. > :21:07.area that needs attention and economic investment. Will the

:21:08. > :21:17.minister follow in the King 's footsteps? And play a flying visit

:21:18. > :21:21.to see how his government c`n help regenerate this airport in Scotland?

:21:22. > :21:25.I am aware that the visit, `lthough this is one of Prestwick's claims to

:21:26. > :21:32.fame, there are several othdr contenders in this competithon but I

:21:33. > :21:37.would be able to visit. We do not need elder son we have got the

:21:38. > :21:43.honourable gentleman! -- Elvis when we have got the honourable

:21:44. > :21:46.gentleman! Number eight. Thd Coalition Government spent ?41

:21:47. > :21:53.billion on transport infrastructure between 2010. On the equivalent

:21:54. > :22:00.basis, this government plans to spend 21 -- six to 1 billion between

:22:01. > :22:05.2015 and 2020, an increase of 1 %. This includes 15 billion on the

:22:06. > :22:10.biggest road improvement programme in Britain since 1970 and the

:22:11. > :22:14.education of 850 mile of Rahlway, the biggest modernisation shnce

:22:15. > :22:19.Victorian times. I am grateful to him for the answer. He will know the

:22:20. > :22:23.importance that I attach to the north-west relief road, the final

:22:24. > :22:29.bit of the road around Shrewsbury which has a cost benefit ratio of

:22:30. > :22:37.5.4. He says this project whll be the responsibility of the l`b, -

:22:38. > :22:41.local authorities, how will he work with them to make sure they have

:22:42. > :22:50.risen -- support? He is right, he has made a sponsor ability ,- he has

:22:51. > :23:00.made representations on this. It is right that this is taken forward by

:23:01. > :23:05.the partnerships, and details of how the funding will be announcdd

:23:06. > :23:11.shortly. With no news on thd privately financed electrifhcation

:23:12. > :23:14.of the line between Selby and Hull, and the announcement yesterday

:23:15. > :23:21.around the trans-Pennine fr`nchise failing to give additional services

:23:22. > :23:26.for Hull for city of culturd 20 7, and only providing refurbished

:23:27. > :23:34.trains and are not new trains, can he understand why the peopld of Hull

:23:35. > :23:38.were taken aback by the comlents on the news last night which s`id that

:23:39. > :23:41.the investment in transport is about to overtake the South? Is that not

:23:42. > :23:50.show that he is away with the Christmas fairies? I do not know

:23:51. > :23:52.whether I want to go into Christmas fairies as far as the Labour Party

:23:53. > :23:59.is concerned, they may see them in many places. I would say thhs, the

:24:00. > :24:03.Department for Transport has been very helpful to Hull in its

:24:04. > :24:07.preparations for the city of culture. Not least the improvements

:24:08. > :24:11.that will be seen and Hull station. But also the proposal that H have

:24:12. > :24:16.done with her honourable frhend the member for Hull East, as far as

:24:17. > :24:22.ensuring that a footbridge hs brought forward quicker as far as

:24:23. > :24:27.the access to the dock in Htll is concerned and I am sorry shd cannot

:24:28. > :24:31.welcome that. Would the secretary of State consider reviewing his

:24:32. > :24:33.spending priorities, becausd is it not true that there would bd

:24:34. > :24:39.billions of pounds availabld to spend on transport infrastrtcture

:24:40. > :24:44.between 2015 and 2020 across the whole country if the current plans

:24:45. > :24:48.for HS2 were placed with a conventional -- replaced with a

:24:49. > :24:52.conventional high-speed lind running at 155 miles an hour? Then there

:24:53. > :24:58.would be money available to pay decent compensation, providd

:24:59. > :25:02.improved environment protection and faster investment in HS thrde, which

:25:03. > :25:07.should be a greater authority than cutting ten minutes of the journey

:25:08. > :25:11.between Birmingham and London. I do not think I am ever going to

:25:12. > :25:16.convince her on this partictlar subject so I am much I am going to

:25:17. > :25:21.try. To just simply say, thd investment we are doing in

:25:22. > :25:27.high-speed two is not just `bout speed. I cannot get this ovdr

:25:28. > :25:31.enough, it is also about capacity, the huge increase of people we are

:25:32. > :25:33.seeing travelling on our rahlways. My honourable friend says wd can

:25:34. > :25:40.just build another conventional line, another one would would cost

:25:41. > :25:44.90% of what HS2 is costing `nyway. There would be no significant

:25:45. > :25:48.savings. I make no apology of being part of the government investing for

:25:49. > :25:53.the future of the nation. One of the future infrastructure projects for

:25:54. > :25:56.this comment to make a decision on, which is of most interest to most

:25:57. > :26:00.people, is that of airport expansion. People in all positions

:26:01. > :26:04.on the issue are interested to know when the decision will be m`de. On

:26:05. > :26:10.the 1st of July 2015, the Prime Minister said, what I can s`y is

:26:11. > :26:14.that we have all read the rdport and a decision will be made by the end

:26:15. > :26:19.of the year. On the 5th of October, the Secretary of State said at the

:26:20. > :26:22.Conservative conference, thd Davis commission has produced a powerful

:26:23. > :26:27.report and we will respond by the end of the year and he repe`ted this

:26:28. > :26:30.in an interview on the 30th of October. Will the Minister confirm

:26:31. > :26:34.that a decision will be madd on airport expansion I the end of the

:26:35. > :26:40.year, or will party politics and the London mayoral elections cole for a

:26:41. > :26:46.decision for the nations of the UK? Mr Speaker, I have read much

:26:47. > :26:49.speculation about what decisions we may be about to take. Some of that

:26:50. > :26:51.speculation might be true btt until we make a decision, I will not be

:26:52. > :27:01.able to inform the House. Given that answer on the potential

:27:02. > :27:03.for a delay, Mr Speaker, and given that the dealers commission had

:27:04. > :27:09.accepted that links for reghonal airports are vital for the future,

:27:10. > :27:13.especially for airports such as Inverness and Dundee, will the

:27:14. > :27:18.Minister commits to urgentlx bringing forward proposals for

:27:19. > :27:21.public service obligations for such routes and amending the reghonal

:27:22. > :27:27.development fund to keep regional air routes sustainable? I know how

:27:28. > :27:30.very important it is to keep links to the London airports at it is

:27:31. > :27:33.something I am more than happy to discuss with the honourable

:27:34. > :27:39.gentleman in detail along whth conversations with the Scottish

:27:40. > :27:42.Government. With the Secret`ry of State or the rail minister be

:27:43. > :27:48.willing to discuss with me transport infrastructure investment in south

:27:49. > :27:49.London? There are proposals from transport for London Departlent for

:27:50. > :27:54.Transport with local authorhties have not been consulted on which

:27:55. > :27:58.would lead to a reduction in the number of fast services going into

:27:59. > :28:03.Victoria. I would like to dhscuss that with ministers. I am stre that

:28:04. > :28:07.my honourable friend the Minister for rail would be more than happy to

:28:08. > :28:11.meet the honourable gentlem`n, the simple fact is that what we are

:28:12. > :28:14.seeing in London is an ever greater amount of transport and we `re doing

:28:15. > :28:19.all we possibly can to meet those requirements. With the Victoria line

:28:20. > :28:23.offering 37 trains per hour, upgrades of the Northern line at the

:28:24. > :28:36.pleasure to receive further upgrades are in something that we ard looking

:28:37. > :28:41.into. The government is providing between ?15.2 billion betwedn 2 15

:28:42. > :28:45.and 21 to invest in the road network. This is the biggest upgrade

:28:46. > :28:51.on the motorways and a Rhodds in a generation, adding to capachty. I

:28:52. > :28:56.welcome what my right honourable friend has just said, is he aware

:28:57. > :29:02.that there are many ways of reducing congestion that are not

:29:03. > :29:05.anti-motorist? Has he seen the report by counsel Richard Tracey

:29:06. > :29:09.called green light which concludes that a majority of traffic lights

:29:10. > :29:14.could be turned off between midnight and six a.m., reducing congdstion

:29:15. > :29:19.and pollution? Why should a motorist have to sit at a red traffic light

:29:20. > :29:22.when there are no pedestrians and no vehicles seeking to use the

:29:23. > :29:25.junction? Will he persuade local authorities to review their traffic

:29:26. > :29:34.light policy and get them to turn some of them off? Mr Speaker I

:29:35. > :29:37.rather hope at this time of year people are turning lights on rather

:29:38. > :29:41.than off but can I say to mx right honourable friend this is something

:29:42. > :29:45.I know that he feels very strongly on, and would like us to look at and

:29:46. > :29:49.I have certainly more than happy to look at the report done by Richard

:29:50. > :29:52.Tracey on this particular m`tter but in the main it is a matter for

:29:53. > :29:58.highway authorities and perhaps he could have influence on his own One

:29:59. > :30:04.of the main causes of congestion in urban areas is illegal parkhng. What

:30:05. > :30:10.is he doing to make the enforcement system more effective and more

:30:11. > :30:16.simple? That is a matter for the local highway authorities to deal

:30:17. > :30:22.with, they have the measures, they have the regulations in which they

:30:23. > :30:25.can see this happening. Havhng visited Chippenham constitudncy a

:30:26. > :30:29.number of times the Secretary of State will know about the specific

:30:30. > :30:32.and copy the problems of tr`ffic congestion in Bradford and dven It

:30:33. > :30:36.is having a significant imp`ct on business and residents, and my right

:30:37. > :30:43.honourable friend suggested advice to deal with this club problem? I do

:30:44. > :30:48.appreciate the point that mx honourable friend present and I

:30:49. > :30:52.visited her earlier this ye`r. The points he makes about traffhc

:30:53. > :30:56.congestion in that particul`r town are absolutely correct and H am more

:30:57. > :31:00.than happy to meet with her along with my honourable friend the

:31:01. > :31:04.Minister for roads to discuss in detail what we could do to help but

:31:05. > :31:10.in the main it is something that the council will come forward whth. From

:31:11. > :31:13.a perspective of tackling congestion in the pinch point scheme at

:31:14. > :31:18.junction 24 of the M-16 has been a huge success. Unfortunately one

:31:19. > :31:23.unintended consequence is an increase in motorway noise for the

:31:24. > :31:29.residents who live adjacent to the M-16 at that location on Thompson

:31:30. > :31:32.close. How -- highways Engl`nd have promised to put in noise reduction

:31:33. > :31:36.measures including new road surfacing in a new financial year.

:31:37. > :31:45.Can the Secretary of State hn this happens early in that new fhnancial

:31:46. > :31:48.year? I have to say that I do not know that's junction partictlarly

:31:49. > :31:51.well myself but following the representations he has made I will

:31:52. > :31:57.certainly look into it and will write to him as to when highways

:31:58. > :32:01.England will be doing that. One of the key campaigns in my constituency

:32:02. > :32:07.to reduce congestion is for an M4 link to the ring road that Woods

:32:08. > :32:09.involve an extra junction, next year the joint transport study

:32:10. > :32:14.commissioned by the local enterprise partnership and surrounding councils

:32:15. > :32:18.will be looking at how to rdduce congestion and I hope the M4 will be

:32:19. > :32:22.an integral part of this, whll be Transport Secretary meet with myself

:32:23. > :32:26.to discuss this? I am more than happy to meet with my honourable

:32:27. > :32:30.friend to discuss this, there is a huge amount of investment bding made

:32:31. > :32:33.available to highways England, I think I visited the site with my

:32:34. > :32:38.honourable friend earlier this year and it would open up a largd area of

:32:39. > :32:46.potential development which I think it's very important. Mr Spe`ker over

:32:47. > :32:49.the summer roads to the Channel port ground to a halt, body drivdrs were

:32:50. > :32:54.stuck in the accounts and ndeded emergency water to drink, local

:32:55. > :32:59.businesses were ahead and vhllages were cut off. The Chancellor's

:33:00. > :33:02.announcement for the new alloy Park could be a step in the right

:33:03. > :33:06.direction but it will keep the traffic moving by itself, it falls

:33:07. > :33:12.well short of highways management road improvement works and local

:33:13. > :33:16.partners tell me that this hs needed if Kent is to be protected from

:33:17. > :33:19.similar incidents in the future Thus the Secretary of State

:33:20. > :33:22.considers the lorry park job done and if not what else will hd do

:33:23. > :33:29.before rather than after thd people of the Southeast go through the same

:33:30. > :33:32.thing again? I do not regard it as job done but I regard it as a great

:33:33. > :33:41.step in the right direction, to be able to find that kind of rdsorts

:33:42. > :33:45.available -- re-sources avahlable so we resolve the situation th`t is

:33:46. > :33:48.unacceptable for the people of Kent. So it is definitely a step hn the

:33:49. > :34:01.right direction but I will keep every other option under review

:34:02. > :34:04.Number ten. The community transport minibus fund will provide over 00

:34:05. > :34:09.organisations with a new minibus they can continue to providd vital

:34:10. > :34:12.services they offer approxilately 70 organisations whose vehicle

:34:13. > :34:16.requirements are very specific be granted funding to purchase a

:34:17. > :34:20.vehicle. We have started to deliver them to these organisations already.

:34:21. > :34:24.The competition to supply the remaining vehicles commences next

:34:25. > :34:28.Monday. I would like to thank my honourable friend for that `nswer

:34:29. > :34:34.but could he make sure that Lancashire County Council are aware

:34:35. > :34:37.of utilising this scheme? They are currently proposing to cut the

:34:38. > :34:45.subsidy to rural buses and others even though they have almost half ?1

:34:46. > :34:50.billion reserved. Like my honourable friend we understand the vital role

:34:51. > :34:53.the buses play, the community transport fund is to help

:34:54. > :34:55.not-for-profit organisations to continue to meet the use of

:34:56. > :35:00.passengers who might otherwhse have no axe port -- access to public

:35:01. > :35:03.transport. Could I draw my honourable friend's attention to the

:35:04. > :35:08.bus service operators grant the government provides, the purpose is

:35:09. > :35:13.to run buses that may not otherwise be viable. I cannot construct like a

:35:14. > :35:17.county council but I hope the considering applying this ftnding

:35:18. > :35:25.anyway to improve rural are`s and their economic growth and social

:35:26. > :35:28.inclusion. The county counchl will cut their funding for local

:35:29. > :35:36.transport from next year, which will see transport in my constittency was

:35:37. > :35:40.a nearly ?150,000. This is xet another attack on the elderly and

:35:41. > :35:45.vulnerable, by Derbyshire County Council who are playing polhtics

:35:46. > :35:48.with vital community servicds. Ahead of my debates next Wednesdax, with

:35:49. > :35:56.the Minister agree with me that we should be supporting these services,

:35:57. > :35:59.not cutting them? My honour`ble friend as ever is a significant

:36:00. > :36:07.champion for her constituency and we will be fully on the merits of

:36:08. > :36:13.supporting buses. Following on from that question, is the Minister aware

:36:14. > :36:18.that the real culprit in thhs business is the Tory governlent

:36:19. > :36:30.They have cut Derbyshire Cotnty Council's grants by ?157 million.

:36:31. > :36:38.Give Derbyshire the money b`ck and we can sort everything out hn the

:36:39. > :36:40.whole county. I do enjoy thd honourable member's interventions,

:36:41. > :36:47.IM sure he was a very formidable in his prime. I was just like to say

:36:48. > :36:51.that it is up to Derbyshire County Council to organise their own

:36:52. > :37:01.priorities and we should be focusing on things that make a difference.

:37:02. > :37:05.Number 11, Mr Speaker. I am so sorry I was entranced by the honotrable

:37:06. > :37:10.gentleman from Bolsover. We are making good progress on

:37:11. > :37:15.implementing, with permission now please group this with question 13?

:37:16. > :37:18.I am so sorry. We are making good progress on in promoting sm`rt

:37:19. > :37:23.ticketing across England, on railways in some train oper`tors are

:37:24. > :37:26.already using smart card and bar code technology. All of our major

:37:27. > :37:32.cities have smart ticketing schemes and we have committed ?150 lillion

:37:33. > :37:38.to support the vision of oyster for the North. I thank the Minister

:37:39. > :37:43.Devolution to Manchester in clothes plans to introduce a smart ticketing

:37:44. > :37:47.scheme, I am assured that travel data will be collected and hn terms

:37:48. > :37:52.of further improvement to the needs the greater Manchester's public

:37:53. > :37:58.transport system. Years important to point out the importance of -- it is

:37:59. > :38:01.important to point out that gathering data is essential. I agree

:38:02. > :38:05.with you about the importance of data to transport for greatdr

:38:06. > :38:09.Manchester, who are responshble for introducing these schemes. The

:38:10. > :38:14.Minister will not that I have raised automatic refund previously and

:38:15. > :38:17.campaign for the introduction in Kent is my constituents can benefit

:38:18. > :38:22.from refunds when the trains are delayed by a few minutes instead of

:38:23. > :38:26.30 minutes. At the Minister tell the house when the scheme will be

:38:27. > :38:30.introduced? And I commend the honourable gentleman who

:38:31. > :38:35.consistently pushes the intdrests of his constituents. He may be aware

:38:36. > :38:42.that from federally, see to see who run the services in his constituency

:38:43. > :38:46.will provide compensation after two minutes delay for those customers

:38:47. > :38:49.who are registered and signdd up to their system. This is exactly the

:38:50. > :38:52.sort of scheme I want to sed nationally so we will closely

:38:53. > :38:57.monitor the roll out of this programme to see if it can be rolled

:38:58. > :39:02.out across other franchises. Flexible ticketing was annotnced in

:39:03. > :39:05.2013 and was wildly popular in south-east and when it was trial in

:39:06. > :39:08.2014 but there are rumours that has been kicked in the long grass. Can

:39:09. > :39:13.the Minister scotched the rtmours for long-suffering communithes in

:39:14. > :39:18.the south-east by announcing the date this will be rolled out for

:39:19. > :39:25.committees in the Southeast? He is right to point out that the

:39:26. > :39:28.government has committed ovdr ? 80 million to this scheme that is being

:39:29. > :39:33.permitted. We are currently looking at the best way to roll that out

:39:34. > :39:36.across the top. It has gone live on Southern, GTR and indeed on the sea

:39:37. > :39:41.to sea and we are talking to south-eastern about the right date

:39:42. > :39:49.to introduce it and I am happy to meet with the honourable gentleman

:39:50. > :39:51.to discuss. , 12. I have received a number of representations from those

:39:52. > :39:56.in Scotland with interest in the future provision of the emergency

:39:57. > :39:59.towing vessels operating from the Northern Isles. The governmdnt

:40:00. > :40:02.recognises the importance of ensuring shipping activity off the

:40:03. > :40:07.coast of Scotland remains a safe and to that end the maritime co`st guard

:40:08. > :40:11.agency will consult with interested parties in the need and scope of

:40:12. > :40:18.putting alternative twin arrangement in beyond April 20 16. The Secretary

:40:19. > :40:21.of State will remember the very interesting and lively disctssions

:40:22. > :40:26.that we had leading up to the decision to retain that emergency

:40:27. > :40:31.towing vessel in 2011, he whll recall that the people on -, people

:40:32. > :40:35.in his own department who w`nted to remove it argued that cover could be

:40:36. > :40:39.provided by the offshore oil and gas industry working in the reghon, he

:40:40. > :40:43.will also be aware that the price of oil has fallen sharply sincd then,

:40:44. > :40:47.it is much less activity from the North Sea and can I get on the

:40:48. > :40:51.Secretary of State that the case that it led to the right decision in

:40:52. > :40:58.2011 is even stronger today than it was then. I do not think thd

:40:59. > :41:01.conversation to put the record right that the rate honourable judgment

:41:02. > :41:06.reversed in 2011 were held hn the Department for Transport, they were

:41:07. > :41:10.held elsewhere. But I do very well remember the case being madd, and I

:41:11. > :41:22.also well remember visiting the vessel with him during the summer of

:41:23. > :41:24.2013. Number 14, please. Thd government has been investing

:41:25. > :41:28.heavily in service improvemdnt in this region through the

:41:29. > :41:31.multi-billion pound tens like programme where nutrients, service

:41:32. > :41:36.and station improvements will now finally start to be deliverdd. But I

:41:37. > :41:40.am the first to recognise that the current performance at the Brighton

:41:41. > :41:45.Main line has been well below expectations. That is why I continue

:41:46. > :41:49.to cheer the south-east task force focusing on driving up performance

:41:50. > :41:53.on these vital routes and I should like to invite the honourable lady

:41:54. > :41:56.and all those interested to a New Year task force gripping whdre we

:41:57. > :41:57.will discuss these performance improvements specifically for these

:41:58. > :42:08.routes. Given that Southern rail ard about

:42:09. > :42:12.to roll out the new timetable on the Brighton mainline and their

:42:13. > :42:16.performance has been so poor, can the Minister provide Sussex MPs with

:42:17. > :42:20.a monthly report -- perform`nce report so we can personally put

:42:21. > :42:24.pressure on southern rail to deliver? She raises an excellent

:42:25. > :42:29.point. I am told that all this information is on the website but I

:42:30. > :42:36.confess I find it quite difficult to find and quite hard to interpret. So

:42:37. > :42:39.I am going to make sure the information provided to the operator

:42:40. > :42:43.to my department and published is made available to members of the

:42:44. > :42:48.public and the MPs in the most obvious and transparent forl so we

:42:49. > :42:51.can all see the performance important we can. Huddersfidld is a

:42:52. > :42:57.long way from the Southeast but I know he will ask a focused puestion

:42:58. > :43:04.like a laser about the safe -- Southeast. When we are here in

:43:05. > :43:07.London and the south-east, we use southern rail and we are pldased

:43:08. > :43:10.that it is good to be improved, we do not begrudge that investlent but

:43:11. > :43:15.we do put it in perspective, we re not getting enough infrastrtcture

:43:16. > :43:20.investment in the North linking the big towns and cities. So North

:43:21. > :43:23.first, South second. The honourable gentleman is a good friend `nd I

:43:24. > :43:28.would head to suggest he was snoozing yesterday rather than

:43:29. > :43:32.watching the news, we announced yesterday a transformational package

:43:33. > :43:39.for wear away in the North. In Huddersfield, new trains, ndw

:43:40. > :43:45.services, three new stations, 5 0 new carriages across the network,

:43:46. > :43:49.and on-board improvements for passengers. He might shake his head,

:43:50. > :44:00.he is going to happen, he c`n say goodbye to the paces from 2019. This

:44:01. > :44:04.government is proud that -- and determined that the Northern

:44:05. > :44:13.powerhouse is going to come to fruition. My constituents fhnd it

:44:14. > :44:18.extremely difficult to get the Southeast because we do not have a

:44:19. > :44:22.direct rail service to London. Can the Minister use her good offices to

:44:23. > :44:27.ensure that the realm regul`ted who has had an application with them for

:44:28. > :44:33.two years, make a quick dechsion? It is impressive stuff. The honourable

:44:34. > :44:36.gentleman will know that thd open access competition to which he

:44:37. > :44:41.refers is a matter for the regulator but it has been quite clear that his

:44:42. > :44:47.constant campaigning is payhng off, he is getting ?88 million of funding

:44:48. > :44:54.resignalling of the region, plus the resignalling of the region, plus the

:44:55. > :45:01.massive franchise benefits xesterday including improvement at Cldethorpes

:45:02. > :45:06.station. Last but non-dash-lacro last but not least, the man with a

:45:07. > :45:15.dazzling taste in ties. The department has engaged extensively

:45:16. > :45:19.with our markets to raise awareness of forthcoming businesses, dquipping

:45:20. > :45:23.British firms to respond to opportunities. We are working to

:45:24. > :45:26.strengthen capability of thd UK s rail supply chain so that UK based

:45:27. > :45:34.suppliers are better able to win work here and abroad. It was not

:45:35. > :45:43.based on the original design. If the junction, I promise you. -- design

:45:44. > :45:52.of spaghetti Junction. Most of the line -- line that build these lines

:45:53. > :46:00.will come from my quarries. Does he agree that when we look at the

:46:01. > :46:03.gossips bad, that will be for my local businesses, who can gdt

:46:04. > :46:13.business in an out of the area, and if it was extended it would further

:46:14. > :46:25.benefit local economy? I am grateful to his ... I think partly through

:46:26. > :46:29.the rogue investment progralme we are moving towards, but also through

:46:30. > :46:38.the work that Colin Matthews I'd doing on the wider issue of the

:46:39. > :46:44.tunnel, is good for his are`. Since I last addressed the House,

:46:45. > :46:49.Cumbria, Lancashire and the north-west have led to -- exudes the

:46:50. > :46:55.worst flooding since 2005. This close the West Coast Main lhne but

:46:56. > :46:59.Network Rail's orange Army have worked tirelessly to restord

:47:00. > :47:08.services and trades are oncd again running from London to Glasgow via

:47:09. > :47:12.Preston. This Christmas, Network Rail will undertake a significant

:47:13. > :47:17.programme of work delivering the government's record ?38 billion

:47:18. > :47:22.investment in the railways. Given the imminence of the announcement, I

:47:23. > :47:28.am going to resist the urge to ask about Heathrow and ask what steps

:47:29. > :47:31.his department will now takd on the issue of irresponsible pavelent

:47:32. > :47:34.parking in view of the cross-party support that issue gained in the

:47:35. > :47:40.Private members bill that wd debated in this house last Friday. Hndeed,

:47:41. > :47:45.think it was a very useful debate which took place last Fridax.

:47:46. > :47:49.Commitments were given to h`ve further discussions on this very

:47:50. > :47:54.important issue and I will dnsure that those discussions take place

:47:55. > :47:57.and the address some of those issues. There are a lot of powers

:47:58. > :48:03.which local authorities havd if they wish to use them. The closure of

:48:04. > :48:09.roads and rail lines in recdnt days is a timely reminder of the strain

:48:10. > :48:14.extreme weather events placd on our transport networks. We all remember

:48:15. > :48:17.the flooding at airport at 2010 and 2013, the loss of the Dawlish

:48:18. > :48:23.seawall and the heroic response of Network Rail's Orange Army. Can the

:48:24. > :48:27.Secretary of State explain why the Dawlish resilience option rdport,

:48:28. > :48:31.due last month, has not been published, and what assurance can he

:48:32. > :48:37.give that the lessons of prdvious periods of disruption have been

:48:38. > :48:40.learned? Mr Speaker, we are already always looking to learn frol

:48:41. > :48:43.expresses his rehab and that is the case as far as the Dawlish repairs

:48:44. > :48:51.and the work that has been done by Network Rail to ensure that line is

:48:52. > :48:53.secure for future use. When there are excessive weather conditions

:48:54. > :48:59.like this last weekend, it puts extra pressure on on the network. It

:49:00. > :49:06.is important to make sure the network continues to operatd safely.

:49:07. > :49:10.I hope we do learn from expdrience, the honourable member for Inverness

:49:11. > :49:12.had a little go so I will ghve the Secretary of State another chance.

:49:13. > :49:16.The Prime Minister told this house in July, and I cried, the gtarantee

:49:17. > :49:22.that I can get is that a decision will be made -- and I quote, is that

:49:23. > :49:25.a decision will be made by the end of the year on airport expansion.

:49:26. > :49:30.Employers should have been clear that the gunmen should bring forward

:49:31. > :49:33.the decision but fear furthdr politically motivated delay. So was

:49:34. > :49:39.the prime and make making clear pledge or our residents who live

:49:40. > :49:46.near Heathrow and that Wick about to be subjected to yet more polite and

:49:47. > :49:49.uncertainty? -- Gatwick. I will not take any lessons from the L`bour

:49:50. > :49:53.Party on planning infrastructure, they were woeful at it and they did

:49:54. > :49:57.very little of it. We have got a government more committed to

:49:58. > :50:05.infrastructure than we saw hn 1 years. When an announcement is to be

:50:06. > :50:09.made, I will make it in the House. Can I thank my right honour`ble

:50:10. > :50:11.friend for visiting Cardiff last week and discussing electrification

:50:12. > :50:15.amongst many other issues, `nd welcome the fact that this

:50:16. > :50:18.government is making Great Western Railway in education are top

:50:19. > :50:27.priority? Can I ask more broadly about the trains in the South West?

:50:28. > :50:32.I was pleased to visit my honourable friend and his constituency last

:50:33. > :50:36.Thursday, not only his constituency but other areas in Wales. I believe

:50:37. > :50:42.that the upgrade your going to see as far as the new trains ard going

:50:43. > :50:45.to be very important and thd bimodal nature of them is that they are

:50:46. > :50:51.going under testing at the loment, adult and Mowbray, and they are in

:50:52. > :50:54.-- at Melton Mowbray, and they are very impressive trades which will

:50:55. > :51:00.lead to a much improved service for his constituents and of those

:51:01. > :51:04.through towards Swansea as well Disabled people are finding it

:51:05. > :51:09.extremely difficult, increasingly more difficult, to access ptblic

:51:10. > :51:13.transport in particularly btses Wheelchair users and those with

:51:14. > :51:18.sight loss. Will the Ministdr consider encouraging bus colpanies

:51:19. > :51:22.give more disability awarendss to their staff, and will he also

:51:23. > :51:30.consider the possibility of statutory introduction of the

:51:31. > :51:37.audiovisual announcements this - system in the up and coming bust

:51:38. > :51:40.Bill? We should not just le`ve it to the bus companies to make stre that

:51:41. > :51:44.disabled facilities are avahlable on the staff know how to get them to

:51:45. > :51:51.disabled people. That is solething which is incumbent on all bts

:51:52. > :51:57.companies to do. As far as the bust Bill, he will have to wait to see

:51:58. > :52:01.when it is published. Mike hs vigilance in Peterborough ldaving

:52:02. > :52:06.for their holidays at Stansted, would like to be tied to thdir

:52:07. > :52:12.environment and give the ro`d is a new trains, but they often cannot do

:52:13. > :52:16.so because the trains run too late for their flights at Stanstdd. Can I

:52:17. > :52:21.ask him to have a word with the rail regulator to restate the importance

:52:22. > :52:24.of rail and airport connecthvity? The honourable gentleman is

:52:25. > :52:27.absolutely right and Stanstdd Airport with local MPs are lobbied

:52:28. > :52:33.very hard to get that early morning service from Liverpool Stredt which

:52:34. > :52:37.stop people sitting at the `irport to catch early flights. I whll

:52:38. > :52:43.happily -- sleeping at the `irport. I will happily discuss this with

:52:44. > :52:50.him. The committee on the mddical effects of air pollution estimate

:52:51. > :52:55.that 60,000 deaths per year occur in Britain because of the effects of

:52:56. > :52:58.air pollution, 20 times the number that were killed in all road traffic

:52:59. > :53:07.accidents. The government states that they will not achieve their

:53:08. > :53:09.legal limit on noxious fumes until the year 2030. Isn't this a

:53:10. > :53:12.disgraceful situation and what if the government going to do to take

:53:13. > :53:19.on Volkswagen, who have been accused of causing 12,000 avoidable deaths

:53:20. > :53:26.in Britain alone grow -- by the gross deception of their vehicles,

:53:27. > :53:30.and what is he doing to accdlerate the clear up of air pollution? I am

:53:31. > :53:39.sure he has not forgotten that the biggest increase in the use of

:53:40. > :53:45.diesel vehicles took place between 2000 and 2010. I am sure th`t he has

:53:46. > :53:48.not forgotten that. The simple fact is, as I have said in the p`st, the

:53:49. > :53:54.behaviour of false wagon is a disgrace, they have got --

:53:55. > :53:57.Volkswagen is a disgrace, they have got to put right what they have done

:53:58. > :54:02.wrong and I have further medtings with them today to discuss that But

:54:03. > :54:05.my right honourable friend provide an update on the availability of

:54:06. > :54:10.funding through the new stations fund for the town of Wellington

:54:11. > :54:14.because that would make an dxcellent candidate for a new station. There

:54:15. > :54:17.is a great deal of interest and I am having a meeting tomorrow whth these

:54:18. > :54:23.people and it would be great to give them more information. The

:54:24. > :54:27.government made available ?20 million of further money for the new

:54:28. > :54:30.station fund in the summer budget, it is absolutely up to local

:54:31. > :54:33.authorities, local businessds to bring forward proposals for new

:54:34. > :54:38.stations, we want to be rooted in the benefits they deliver to local

:54:39. > :54:40.community. I would be delighted to review the proposal for Wellington

:54:41. > :54:46.station and look forward to working with her. We would like to get new

:54:47. > :54:49.stations built. One of the consequences of the catastrophic

:54:50. > :54:57.floods in Cumbria has been the near disappearance of the road bdtween

:54:58. > :55:02.Grasmere and Keswick which effectively cuts the Lake Dhstrict

:55:03. > :55:05.in two, will the government consider applying for EU funding to bring

:55:06. > :55:10.forward funds so we can makd sure we can reopen that road imminently so

:55:11. > :55:13.the Lake District, which continues to be a marvellous place to spend

:55:14. > :55:22.Christmas and New Year, can be reconnected? I will underst`nd the

:55:23. > :55:28.honourable gentleman's concdrn as it affects his constituents, and the

:55:29. > :55:34.thoughts are with his consthtuents as to the shape chaos they `re

:55:35. > :55:40.facing in the area. We disctssed this on Monday, and we said that we

:55:41. > :55:48.would look at it but I would be also looking for immediate help. My

:55:49. > :55:51.honourable member friend thd ministry -- from the Ministry of

:55:52. > :55:55.transport will be in the arda tomorrow. I was so encouragdd by

:55:56. > :56:00.yesterday's announcement th`t two Northern Rail franchises ard to

:56:01. > :56:07.receive a massive 120 million boost to rail services with 500 brand new

:56:08. > :56:12.carriages, was that intended as a signal for the readers to the

:56:13. > :56:22.Greater Anglia franchise as to what will be expected from them hf we are

:56:23. > :56:27.going to ensure the region has a modern trends -- 21st century

:56:28. > :56:34.transport system? In the interest of Christmas and brevity, the `nswer to

:56:35. > :56:40.his question is yes. The Secretary of State will be aware that under

:56:41. > :56:46.the current proposals for HS2, the journey time between crew and

:56:47. > :56:51.Scotland will increase due to the changing and stock being usdd. Can

:56:52. > :57:03.he commits to bringing forw`rd a different definitive timetable for

:57:04. > :57:07.the upgrade works? When we do the next planning rounds for Network

:57:08. > :57:10.Rail, these are some of the issues that he has referred to, and they

:57:11. > :57:16.will be taken into account but we are doing is upgrade on the right #

:57:17. > :57:18.Caroline now. Over Christmas I hope to go and see some of the

:57:19. > :57:22.improvements that are taking place at Stafford which will help to

:57:23. > :57:28.increase capacity further up the line.

:57:29. > :57:33.Have the creation of the West Midlands combined authority has

:57:34. > :57:37.created an opportunity to t`ke a strategic view of the transport

:57:38. > :57:42.needs of the region, but wotld you also provide an opportunity for the

:57:43. > :57:56.Department to work with loc`l operators to leave congestion? Any

:57:57. > :58:00.interests of brevity, yes. @mong the franchises announced yesterday was

:58:01. > :58:04.one and by the German state rail company. Can the Minister tdll the

:58:05. > :58:11.house, what proportion of the ticket fare paid for by us will be used to

:58:12. > :58:23.subsidise affairs paid for by German commuters? Are you going to complain

:58:24. > :58:27.about the jobs it brings? I'm very pleased that British companhes are

:58:28. > :58:33.winning real contracts in Gdrmany to provide services as well. I actually

:58:34. > :58:38.believe the marketplace works. The announcements we made yesterday are

:58:39. > :58:45.a seismic change in the service for both Northern and Trans-Pennine

:58:46. > :58:56.Every local government leaddr in the area was in favour, most of them

:58:57. > :59:01.Labour ones. Will you join le in welcoming the tunnel the and that

:59:02. > :59:06.has been closed, will reopen next Monday, allowing for more trains and

:59:07. > :59:12.longer trains? Absolutely. Ht is very difficult, as others now, to do

:59:13. > :59:17.this upgrade work without disruption. Thank people for their

:59:18. > :59:22.patience, but anyone who dotbts that this government is serious `bout the

:59:23. > :59:24.transport system in the North, just needs to go there on Monday morning

:59:25. > :59:30.when the trains start running through the tunnel again. The

:59:31. > :59:36.Secretary of State will be `ware that in 2013, a police helicopter

:59:37. > :59:42.plunge through the roof of ` bar in my constituency. The report had a

:59:43. > :59:49.number of recommendations, hncluding installing black box recorddrs in

:59:50. > :59:57.lease helicopters. When will this be implemented? I believe the report,

:59:58. > :00:02.being in Scotland on the dax the report came out, and we've been able

:00:03. > :00:07.to show there's nothing to stop police of all other local

:00:08. > :00:14.authorities including that dquipment already in helicopters. I al working

:00:15. > :00:29.with the Civil Aviation Authority to see how that is implemented.

:00:30. > :00:38.The Secretary of State has `lready mentioned the work at Norton Bridge,

:00:39. > :00:48.which has been undertaken excellently by Network Rail. But the

:00:49. > :00:53.advance of the first stage of stage two of HS2, there's the question of

:00:54. > :00:57.impact on the infrastructurd, particularly roads, around Stafford

:00:58. > :01:03.and mid Staffordshire. But he meet with me to discuss this? I'l more

:01:04. > :01:07.than happy to meet, we are hnvesting a huge amount in the infrastructure

:01:08. > :01:12.and having been in Stafford just a few weeks ago, I can see sole of the

:01:13. > :01:18.problems which she refers to. Don't ask the real minister to repeat the

:01:19. > :01:23.figures she gave to the Council and transport safety conference this

:01:24. > :01:27.week, about the appalling ntmber of suicides on a rail system and the

:01:28. > :01:34.disruption and dreadful imp`ct that has, both on the victims of suicide,

:01:35. > :01:39.but also on the travelling public? What I told the conference, he had

:01:40. > :01:44.organised and can I commend him for his decades of work in this area,

:01:45. > :01:48.was that every 30 hours, soleone takes a life on the rail network. It

:01:49. > :01:54.is a tragedy both by the falilies of the victim, and the drivers and

:01:55. > :01:59.staff, for whom it's a distressing experience. And the disrupthon for

:02:00. > :02:04.travellers. I commend the work that Network Rail along with the

:02:05. > :02:15.Samaritans is doing and we want to see this number come down. The

:02:16. > :02:19.much-needed third crossing hn Lowestoft will be funded in the New

:02:20. > :02:24.Year, but can you confirm that the fund will be up and running as

:02:25. > :02:35.quickly as possible after Christmas? I most certainly can confirl it will

:02:36. > :02:36.be up and running after Chrhstmas. I think this scheme he mentions is a

:02:37. > :02:53.very strong candidate. To ask the Secretary of State for

:02:54. > :02:57.Health if he will make a st`tement on the report of the investhgation

:02:58. > :03:09.into deaths at Southern health NHS foundation trust. The whole house

:03:10. > :03:17.will be profoundly shocked by this morning's allegations of a failure

:03:18. > :03:26.to investigate over 1000 undxpected deaths by Southern Health Nhs

:03:27. > :03:27.Foundation Trust. Following the death