19/05/2016 House of Commons

A briefs note with more details about the election will be made

available to members and published on the internet. Order. Presentation

of bill, Mr Javid. Second reading, what day? Tomorrow.

Order, the clerk will proceed to read the orders of the day.

Nanss bill, presentation Fy second reading and committal. In accordance

with standing order number 80 B and the order of the 11th April, 2016,

this bill is read a second time and stands committed to a public bill

committee in respect of those clauses and schedules not ordered to

stand part of the bill in the first session.

Order. Investigatory of powers bill, preacceptation and second reading.

Thank you. In accordance with order 80 A and order of 15th March, 2016,

this bill is read a second time. Consideration, what day? Tomorrow.

Tomorrow. Thank you. Police and Crime Bill presentation

and second reading. In accordance with standing order 80 A and the

order of 7th March, 2016, this bill is read a second time. Bill to be

further considered, what day? Tomorrow. Thank you. Queen's speech,

motion from address, adjourned debate on question. The question is

that a humble address be presented to her Majesty as on the order

paper. I call the Secretary of State for Transport, secretary McCloclan.

I would like to make a brief statement about the loss of Egyptian

flight flight. The Airbus 320 was carrying 56 passengers and 10 crew

between Paris and Cairo, disappeared from radar at approximately 1. 30am

over the waters of the eastern Mediterranean. We understand that

one of those passengers on board is a UK national and that consu lar

staff are in contact with the family and providing support. I know the

House will want to join me in saying our thoughts are with the family and

friends of all of those on board T Government is in touch with the

Egyptian and French Government, the French authorities and has offered

full assistance. The air accident investigation branch has offered to

assist with the investigation in anyway that it can.

I am extremely grateful to my Right Honourable friend, as party of the

all party Egypt group, may I thank him and associate myself and the

group with the condolences he has expressed. Can I ask one question,

will the Government be seeking to discuss with the French authorities,

in particular, whether the French authorities are satisfied that the

measures that they are taking to screen passengers and luggage at

Paris meets the kind of requirements that we in the United Kingdom feel

are necessary, bearing in mind that I believe a number of people

air-side in Paris have had their authorityisation revoked because of

their association with Islamic association? As I said, it is far

too early yet to make any assumptions as to what has happened.

Of course we will be wanting to look at all of these issues and discuss

them with the French authorities and others as well. I can assure my

honourable friend that is something that we will want to take further

further. Mr -- further forward. It is a pleasure to open the debate on

Her Majesty's gracious speech. I welcome the talks of transport and

infrastructure. Yesterday was about building a stronger and modern

economy, which provides security for all people and opportunity at every

stage of life. A country fit for the future. No matter what the

challenges it faces, because if we have learnt anything from the past

decade, it is that we need to be better prepared, more responsible

during the times of plenty, so that when, so we can weather the more

difficult times. In the last Parliament we had to take some tough

economic decisions. But they were the right economic decisions. We

earned a hard-fought recover fri recession and the financial crisis N

2014, Britain was the fastest major advance economy in the world N 2015

we were the second fastest after the United States. Mr Speaker, 2016, the

employment rate hit another record high. More families are benefits

from the security of regular wages. And unemployment has fallen once

again. The deficit is down by two-thirds as a share of GDP from

2010. And the OBR have forecast it will be eliminated by 2019-2020.

That recovery is still going on today. And with the global economy

slowing, it is even more vital that we stick to our long-term economic

plan. But it is not just responsible

fiscal statutory we need, we also need to invest for Britain's future,

to create the capacity and space we need to grow. For decades, we have

been slipping down with global infrastructure league tables. Mr

Speaker, if I were to take an example from recent history, and let

me pluck two years out of thin air, say between 1997 and 2010, it is

true to say that in those 13 years that I take at random, Mr Speaker,

Britain has slipped from seventh to 33rd in the world infrastructure

league tables. The result, we watched as our roads

have grown congested, our railways overcrowded and our town centres

choked with traffic. We cannot move goods and people efficiently from

one place to another, how can we expect businesses to invest in

Britain? Building the infrastructure Britain needs to compete is one of

the defining challenges of the age. So, we have spent the past six years

in Government turning things around. Now I could, Mr Speaker, take a

lesson from the Leader of the Opposition yesterday, but I hope my

speech will not be as bad thaz, so I give way to my honourable friend. I

am grateful to the Secretary of State. I wonder if he would

recognise that one of the areas of gaining employment is the

infrastructure from where you live to where you want to work. I wonder

if he will recall standing on the platform of a former railway stages

and whether he could bring forward plans to extend the robinhood line

in the future. I remember being with my honourable friend just over 12

months ago. I cannot remember what was happening at the time, but I

well remember my visit to his efficient and I well remember the

fantastic result he had at the subsequent general election and the

way in which he's always pushed for more infrastructure in his area. I

would like to see us working with him and the local authority to see

what other systems of transport we could give. Nottingham has not done

too bad as far as infrastructure investment is concerned. The fact is

we have seen a huge amount of investment as far as the new station

is concerned. And the dualing of the A 457, which I am very grateful that

the honourable lady was able to join me at when it was opened. Well, she

says, thanks to a Labour County Council. Actually those plans were

progressed by a Conservative county council when it was in office and

had not been progressed as she well knows. I will give way to my

honourable friend. I thank the Secretary of State for giving way.

He knows whatly raise with him and he picked the years of 1997 to 2010

at random. In 1997, my predecessor said a by pass would get built. In

2010 it was no longer a spade in the ground. Promised before the last

election that we build the relief road and spur and we are looking at

that to deal with the problem. Can he confirm to me we are prepared to

press ahead with that as fast as possible because we talk about

growing the economy and growing jobs, that is very vital for my

area. My honourable #23re7bd is a neighbour. We border -- friend is a

neighbour. We border a lot of the constituencies. I am pleased to

confirm our road investment strategy. And the pointed we want to

go further and we have commissioned a report from quol lin Matthews

about connectivity between Manchester and Sheffield, which

would have a huge beneficial effect for his own constituency. I am

slightly worried about the amount of time I will take and the amount of

people who are seeking to intervene on me. I cannot resist the

honourable lady. I hope the secretary of state will

comment on the woeful transport situation in my constituency. There

are no plans to improve Ahki road network and the three motorways

there, there are no plans for substantial goods to our real

services through Eccles, our bus services are woeful and we've had a

3.6% increase in traffic in Salford, three times the greater Manchester

average and on Monday I'm missing the register speak about them

building their fifth garden which will bring 1 million visitors in

Salford every year, how will they be brought in? I will come on to say

more about the infrastructure wouldn't want roads and the

devolution were given to local authorities and I think offer should

be a strong position to take advantage of some those measures. Mr

Speaker, thing for the final time at this stage I will give way. Grateful

for giving way, can I pick two years out of thin air? 2010-2020 will mark

a decade of zero investment on the entity six in Chester when the

Government is not refusing to that -- to upgrade the motorway but has

refused to take a responsible tea for even installing police and

Highways Agency cameras so that we can know what problems there are.

What can my constituents look forward to? The honourable member is

calling for more spending on infrastructure and I join him insane

week to spend more money when of the structure and make sure that when we

spend it we spend it properly and do it in a planned manner. Of the

investment we are doing we will look at some of the places that even with

the extra investment we've given, will speak more about that, in areas

with not be able to cover providing the get the other sides of the

economy in good order. Mr Speaker, as I was saying before I took those

interventions, in the past six years we've turned things around as far as

infrastructure is concerned, we've climbed the global infrastructure

investment league table and were in the top ten ahead of France, Japan

and Germany. Action is on the way, wider roads, faster trains, better

urban transport, south-west widening A30 and Afeels great. Brand-new

trains on order and the north-west Manchester Victoria station

transformed an electric trains on the northern half and motorways

whitened. In East Anglia, A11 opened at Norwich distributor road under

construction and finally to act on the A47, was a nose of great

interest, honourable friend who will wind up this debate and the A14 in

the Midlands. A transformation at Birmingham new Street station, the'

one partly covered and the four lane running, could go on, the Crossrail

in an -- in London, action right around the country. Time will not

allow me to take more interventions and carry on with my list of

improvements. I will give way. Thank you for his mention of the

south-west and the real key issue for us is making sure we have an

alternative railway line from the one gender doll which allowed we get

the A303 so we have better transport and have a better productivity,

which is lamentable. Thank you. I'm grateful to honourable friend. I

remember him deliver party manifesto that they were going to cancel some

of the road programmes we were speaking about in south-west and

they mentioned specifically something that we all remind them of

time and time again. A Treasury report last year revealed over 400

billion of infrastructure workers currently planned across the country

and the biggest slice of that is transport. Overall cross-border

infrastructure spending will rise by 50% during this parliament. That

means we can invest ?50 million to maintain and improve our roads. The

largest figure for a generation. ?6 billion from local highways

maintenance, double the spending of the last Labour Government, and

giving local authorities are multi-year funding settlement for

the first time this has ever been done with an additional ?250 million

to find a local portals. Contrast that with the Labour record, between

2001 and 2010, an extra 574 Extra Lane miles were added to our

motorways. We are adding 1/1000 300 miles, Labour only electrified ten

miles of railway track, already we've done five times that amount

and anyone who goes on the great Western line can see there are many

more to come very soon. We are delivering the most ambitious rail

modernisation programme since the Victorian era, the ?40 billion

investment. Crossrail, Thames link electrification, intercity IEP

programme, new carriages being built and new factories opened by the

Prime Minister in the north-east, by a company that has moved its global

headquarters to Britain, Hitachi. And HS2, which starts construction

next year. This is a new staff infrastructure which will make

Britain one of the leading transport investors. The gracious speech also

supports legislation to back infrastructure commission, the

commission was much influence is already being felt. These

recommendations we've invested an extra 250 million to improve what --

northern transport connectivity. And it is on top of the record ?13

billion already committed across the North, we've given the Green light

to HS2 E between Leeds and Manchester and allocated an extra

?80 million to help fund the development of Crossrail. Obi

pleased to say by the end of this Parliament Crossrail one will be

operating, the Elizabeth line, which will be a significant investment in

transport in London for many generations I think it will make a

very welcome addition to the infrastructure in the capital. I

give way. Thank you. I'm just worried about Sheffield's position

in that list of schemes. HS three was referred as going from digester

to Leeds, not connecting to Sheffield, as that dispute the

Government's raider, Whiley secretary confirmed there is no trip

-- truth in the stories of consideration being given to abandon

the -- abandoning decision Sheffield for HS2, there will be a station and

will get NHS to be as well? And coming on to say something is wet

HS2 and if the honourable member does the live as it is question I

will give way later on. As Mike does not think I answer. I hope you will

be reassured. This all adds up to an ambitious pipeline of schemes that

will not only free of capacity, boost freight and improve travel,

but will also help us to attract jobs, rebalance the economy and make

us a more prosperous country. Of course, well some of this is

happening there will be disruption, there will be inconvenience, but

when the work is done you get the benefits, adult Reading station was

the new Wakefield station or at Nottingham station, infrastructure

that will prepare Britain for the future. That is what is behind the

modern transport Bill, Bill to pave the way for the technologies and

transport of tomorrow, we already developing the charge it

infrastructure for electric and hybrid vehicles, space flight and

drool -- drivers cause might be science fiction but these boys are

vast and were damaged Britain will benefit by leading their

development, driverless cars will come under new legislation so they

can be insured under ordinary policies, those new laws will help

toddlers and driverless vehicles become an option for private by --

buyers and fleets. -- autonomous. The Giza tablet is one of the best

kisses to research and develop those vehicles, just as we are leading the

way with words testing to ensure cars meet emissions standards,

cleaning up the air quality in our cities. Through this bill we will

strengthen our position as a leader in the intelligence more stability

sector that is currently growing by next to make -- estimated 16% and

which some experts could be worth up to ?900 billion worldwide by 2020.

Despite my initial gloom that's descended on me when he mentioned

HS2, can I say how delighted I am to hear about the growth in, strive and

May I congratulate my honourable friend and the Government for

promoting this. There is no question that the UK leads the way in this

area working alongside Japan on this area. I would simply say this will

increase the density of traffic potentially by fourfold on our

motorways. Let's stick to it and I will resist the temptation to say

that with autonomous drive cars we would not need HS2. That would be

the wrong thing to say and I think. I'm never sure when my friend

magnate and integration of I should regard it that something is helpful

or not. I think that one the jury 's still out. The bill will also allow

for the construction of the first commercial spaceport, a full range

of viable options have been put forward and we support those bits.

The bill will create the right framework for the market to select

what the best location will be. The also legislate to encourage British

entrepreneurs to make the most of the commercial opportunities of

space, forming part of the Government's wider support for the

UK space sector aimed at raising revenues for almost 12 billion to 40

billion by 2030. That is around 10% of the global space economy. We are

also preparing for HS2. The biggest infrastructure scheme this country

has seen for a generation. The transformation of rail travel across

Britain to free up capacity on the rest of the network and rebalance

our economy and our economic geography. Already before a single

track has been leaked HS2 factor is having an impact we've seen a

blue-chip companies like Burberry choosing to move to Leeds while HSBC

has relocated its banking headquarters from London to

Birmingham. They have cited HS2 Everton -- significant factor in

these decisions are busy ambitious regeneration plans around places

like Curzon Street in Birmingham and oral common. As it is like Leeds,

Manchester, crew and Sheffield are preparing for phase two. On that

very point! Will this be helpful lot -- helpful or not? My honourable

friend mentioned Curzon Street and given that there will be HS2, could

I did mention to him and put down a marker perhaps that he will know

there is a cross city line from Lichfield Trent Valley to Redditch,

if HS2 eventually links up with the continent and doesn't have to go via

Saint pancreas, it would be hugely advantageous if they were a halt at

Curzon Street on the cross city line because that rail line goes

immediately adjacent to that terminus prayer HS2 goes. -- were.

Well, Mr Speaker, I think although my honourable friend was against HS2

I'm pleased to see he's already thinking of how he can benefit his

area and region so much, and I join him in his partial conversion. I

will take that as a helpful intervention. Mr Speaker, for HS2

businesses, that means they will be able to access new markets, drawing

their employees for a much wider catchment area and perhaps for the

first time consider moving offices away from London. When HS2

construction begins next year, we will build something much bigger

than a new railway, we will invest in the economic prosperity of the

next half a century or more, training a New Generation of

engineers, developing new skills for a New Generation of apprentices and

rebalancing the growth that for far too long is because treating the

Simic has been concentrated in London and the South East. I'm

delighted to hear the honourable Jesmond talk of such great Panther

England. What progress has he made with electrification to my

constituency in Swansea East? I'm glad to say to the honourable lady

I've made a lot more progress than was being made in the 13 years of

the last Labour Government because to get to Swansea we've first got to

get to Cardiff, and we will get to Cardiff and then to Swansea, as has

been promised. Work is on the way, she will be a traveller on the great

Western Railway line and she will be seeing all the work that is going

on. She will be a regular traveller through Reading and will have seen

the 800 million pounds spent on that scheme. I think we are doing a fair

job insuring her constituents and that of my honourable friend for

Gareth, who has often made the case for going to Swansea, actually to

fruition. I can't resist. I thank the Transport Secretary forgiving

way, would you like to confirm that a letter vocation of the great

Western mainline was set out by the former Transport Secretary in 2009

and cookie confirming that you how long it has delayed and how much

overbudget? Well, she says it was set out in 2009, might have been set

out then, ... One has to wait while they waited for 12 years on knowing

they are about to lose office in 2010, they came out with some plans

that carried them through in substance and, yes, the costs have

gone up, regret the fact they've gone up but I still think overall

it's worth a project that is well worth well during and if it had been

studied 15 or 20 years ago it would not cost what it is costing today.

-- started. Anyone can lay out plans.

It fails of delivery of those particular plans and it is left to

us to deliver those plans. So, Mr Speaker, as I was saying, we will be

firing up the north and the Midlands to take advantage of this

transformational project. After overwhelming support in this House t

bill has moved to another place. I look forward to the Lords Select

Committee stages. I am a strong supporter of remaining in the

European Union. But I am glad, Mr Speaker that will I not only be able

to get a high-speed train to London or Brussels but soon to Manchester,

Leeds or Sheffield and no matter how big the scheme it is now vital for

Britain's national infrastructure. We will always remember that the

vast majority of journeys people make are local in nature. So, local

transport and infrastructure is no less crucial to preparing Britain

for the future. Backing safer routes for more cycling and better buses.

We involving powers out to our cities and regions to give

communities a bigger stake in local planning. Transport is just one

aspect of that. As we heard yesterday the neighbour #450d

planning and instra structure bill will make local planning process

easier beyond quickly, to deliver new instra structure and support our

ambition to build one million new homes, while protecting the areas

such as the greenbelts. It has resulted in councils granting

planning applications for more than a quarter of a million homes in a

past year. Our plans go further, to become a country where everybody who

works hard can have a home of their own. The gracious speech featured

the local jobs and growth bill. This will allow local authorities to

retain 100% of local taxes to spend on local services by the end of this

particular. That is worth an extra ?13 billion from the business rates.

Councils have called for more fiscal autonomy, now they are getting it. A

real commitment from central Government. Real devolution and real

self-sufficiently for regions across England. Arguably the biggest change

to local Government finance for a generation. The bill will give

authorities the power to cut business rates, to boost enterprise

and to grow their local economies. As announced in the budget, we will

pilot the new system in Greater Manchester and Liverpool and

increase the share retained in London. Madam Deputy Speaker it is

little wonder that the members operate are giving up the life of

opposition and seeking to find new roles in life. I do offer today the

Shadow Home Secretary my best wishes for his mayoral nomination bid. He

obviously doesment think he will be Home Secretary after the next

general election, nor do I. I thank the Secretary of State for

giving way on this issue. I am very proud on this Conservative majority

Government that we actually are looking at the whole issues when it

comes to serving our local communities. Infrastructure,

retaining the business rates and where we have no local plans this

Government is giving us an opportunity to intervene and get

more local plans. Almost 50% of commuting is out of Eastly and

standing traffic and air pollution is a big problem. Thank you,

Secretary of State. I am very grateful to my honourable friend. I

know how important transport connectivity is in our efficiency.

We have discussed it on many occasions. I hope some of the

measures we are taking out, as I set out today in the overall transport

policies, will go someway to bring some of the changes she may want.

Yesterday did illustrate how we are devolving powers for local transport

services. The bus services bill will provide new powers to local

authorities, to improve bus services and increase passenger numbers. It

will deliver for passengers, local authorities and bus companies, all

working in partnership together to improve services. We will replace

the disastrous quality contract scheme, pieron neared by the party

opposite when they were in office. A failed theory that has not been

successfully applied over the past 16 years. Stronger partnerships will

allow local authorities to agree a new set of standards for bus

services, including branding, ticketing and how often buses run.

Passengers will want to know when they next bus will turn up and how

many it will cost. So, the bill will mandate the release of fares, pun

cualty routes and real time bus ofgs. It will help with more

transport as it has in London, right across the country. New journey

planners and others products to help passengers get the most out of their

buses. This is about delivering for customs and empowering local

communities. My honourable friend is being generous. Will he confirm the

buses bill will enable communities in devolved areas such as mine in

the west of England to integrate smart car ticketing which will

encourage more people to use buses for less? I want to see more use of

smart ticketing and I think the bus companies are now addressing that.

There will be certain criteria as to where bus companies can apply, local

authorities can apply for the franchising. We will need to see if

my honourable friend's area lives up to those sort of priorities. Mr

Speaker, this is... I am hearing of a train that runs

once a week. No. No. In one direction only.

And of course I would quite like to have a train service that goes into

Manchester. Really on the issue of smart ticketing, can he knock some

common sense into some of the transport planners who are trying to

reinvent the wheel? We've had a bit of a farce in Greater Manchester,

where millions of pounds have been spent trying to develop the

technology of the get-me-there card, when we actually already have some

technology in our own pockets - called a contactless card. Why do we

have to reinvent the wheel, why not use technology that exists? I agree

that there are new technologies. One has to say that is a fairly new

technology and those who are able to use it in London see it being used

regularly now. These are the areas we should look and move further

forward. I hope it is one of the things that we will be able -- that

will be able to happen. Madam Deputy Speaker, this is about delivering

for customers. New powers to franchised services will be able to

combine the services with newly elected mayors as there are in

London. Together, these measures demonstrate the Government's

ambition to deliver transport which helps the public get around and get

about. The coalition Government and this one-nation Conservative

Government have a record to be proud of. Investment is up. Projects under

way, journeys getting easier. Backing growth, jobs and new

technology. Helping local people get the homes and infrastructure they

need. Striking a fairer deal, giving delow lugss to local -- devolution

to local... And transport infrastructure is playing its part.

Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I begin by echoing the Transport

Secretary in relation to the lost of the EgyptAir flight. Our thoughts

are also with the family and friends of the passengers and crew and we

await the outcome of the investigations under way.

While we are not discussing the Queen's speech that I would have

won'ted to see -- wanted to see, it is fitting we are starting on

transport T challenges facing this country's network systems are

profound and there are some important cross-party points of

agreement for meeting them. I welcome the Transport Secretary to

his place. I must point out his speech was a timely reminder of the

need for ministers to mind the gap between their rector rit and

reality. He said the Government is delivering investment. Let's look at

the real Conservative record. Bus and rail fares up by a quarter.

Billions cancelled from road investment schemes. New projects

under threat. The hard shoulder stripped from the motorways, the

wheels falling off the cycling revolution. A ?12 billion road

maintenance backlog on our local roads. Rail pun cualty at its worst

in a decade and of course, Madam Deputy Speaker, they promised a

Northern Ireland powerhouse, but they inflicted a northern power cut

instead. That said, we welcome the Government's stated intention to

introduce new local transport powers, extending to the country the

ability to employ the successful models in the capital. Now I am sure

the whole House will want to extend its congratulations to Mr Khan, the

former member for Tooting and now the London Mayor of London. It is a

little known fact that the new mayor is the son of a bus driver and the

proposal in the bus service's bill to extend London-style bus powers to

the rest of the country is long overdue.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the Transport Secretary didn't even

mention buses until he got 27 minutes into his speech, because of

course these plans could have been made in the last Parliament, but

ministers consistently opposed any proposals for the tendering of bus

services to reverse the disastrous consequences of the 1985 transport

act. Well, Madam Deputy Speaker, can I join the honourable lady in

congratulating Mr Khan on his election as Mayor of London. Does

she agree with his words when he was Transport Minister, when he said one

of the reasons we are able to invest record sums in our railway services

is the revenue that franchises bring in and the premiums they pay. That

was his view in 2009 when he was doing this job.

I was very pleased that under the last Labour Government there was

record investment in our railways. So many of the things that the

Transport Secretary forgets to talk about when every week I travel up to

the Midlands on the middle main line through St Pancras railway station,

which has been transformed and was under the Labour Government, but he

never mentions that. I welcome the Transport Secretary's conversion to

the cause of bus regulation. You might call it a stretching U-turn

mad dom Deputy Speaker. But the devil will be in the detail.

I I would remind the Government benches that last year's Queen's

Speech promised to introduce a buses bill. You wait five years for a

Conservative Queen's speech that mentions buses and then two come

along at once, even if they are running late. We will subject the

bill to close scrutiny and it is vital that it provides a legal

framework that protects local authorities from eye-watering

compensation claims and safeguards work and conditions.

I am grateful to my honourable friend and she talks about local

authorities. Of course if she had been listening carefully to the

Queen's Speech yesterday Her Majesty said these powers would be extended

to the areas of England with directly elected mayors only. Given

that, does she think that actually the powers in the buses bill that we

expect to be published soon should extend to all parts of England,

whether or not they have a mayoral model? I thank my honourable friend

for that question. I shall address his point just in one moment.

Because the bill must address the decline in rural bus services, which

have seen some of worst cuts and highest fare rises in the country.

We need to make sure that the powers are available to any area that wants

them, as my honourable friend has just sasmtd I welcome the concession

the Transport Secretary has made. The Queen's Speech briefing

published yesterday said the bill will allow communities without a

directly elected mayor to apply for contracting powers. It is unclear

why those powers should remain within the gift of the department.

He and I represent areas which have so far not agreed a devolution deal.

Perhaps The Right Honourable member for Derbyshire Dales can explain why

the powers are good enough for Manchester, but may not be good

enough format lock. We saw the announcement of what the Government

calls its modern transport bill. Given the minister of state, who is

sad not in his place now drives a 126-year-old car seasoned a noted

steam engine enthuz yass tick perhaps we should -- enthusiastic,

perhaps we should look at that. It is short on details. The Queen's

Speech briefs said the law on drones would be reformed, but in answers to

my honourable friend, the member for Birmingham North field, the

Government have consistently said that the EU is leading in this area.

It is unacceptable that ministers seem to be waiting for a serious

drone strike to occur before taking action. It is vital that we don't

wait for an accident to happen. Electric cars will place a crucial

role in driving donations but we are playing catch-up because the

Government fails to deliver its promise of a coalition agreement is

to establish a national charging network. We welcome the development

of personal autonomous vehicles, which could be a boon for our car

manufacturing industry and I know they're a fully anticipated for many

to save the people. Given that insurance premiums have risen by 20%

over the last year, Government's Postal to insure drivers cause on

the same basis as existing policies might not offer much reassurance to

prospective buyers. That said, the focus on driverless cars is perhaps

understandable given the Government's tendency to run on

autopilot. I thank my honourable friend forgiving way but before we

leave the question of bosses on the bus services bills and wonder as she

is talking about velvet and technology if she would really bus

services bill provides an option to make all new buses accessible for

people with sight loss through talking buses with next stop and

final destination announcements. 2 million people would really

appreciate that it's a move we should make for it with new buses.

My honourable friend is right to draw attention to the lack of

accessibility on buses. A number of buses do have audiovisual announcers

which it is really only in London and outside of London there are few

examples. That should be addressed. It Mr Stater said the UK should

adopt a light touch approach to bribe -- driverless car development

but we need to make sure the risks have been fully analysed. It's

important the ministers are not moving to find too fast. It should

be said that is just about the only are where the Government could be

accused of acting too quickly. There is difference to supporting the

growing space industry by constructing the first spaceport in

the UK. I'm grateful to the honourable lady forgiving way but

will she accept that Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes and BMW have all welcomed

the Government's initiatives to see driverless cars or autonomous cars

being tested on British roads, they think Britain is a leader. I think

the -- thank you member for his intervention and I believe it offers

a great opportunity for our excellent automotive industry but we

do need to be aware of the present difficulties of these at ology and

the safety implications. In fairness, it is impressive he can

put a rocket in space even though he can't fix our pothole ridden roads.

We also need to look at the bills that were not announced yesterday.

The department has had two years to respond to look -- the Law

Commission 's report on taxes and private hire vehicles, the rise of

Aruba and other services makes the need for reform of the more urgent.

Yesterday during the debate on the well addressed the honourable member

for marriage and said that personal safety on transport services was

women's highest priority. And there can be no excuse for the delay in

reforming licensing and regulation this area. I'm grateful to my

honourable friend, she will know I had debate on the adjournment on the

4th of May about precisely this issue. Is she is concerned as I am

that there are some taxi licensing authorities that are effectively

handing out licences to taxi drivers across the country who have been

legitimately refused to taxi licences by their all local

authorities? I thank my honourable friend for his intervention, there

are real concerns about taxi licensing and regulation and those

were very carefully addressed by the Law Commission in its report. That

is why it is so disappointing that the Government have yet to respond

properly and act in this area. Ministers have also had almost three

years to respond to the Law Commission on reforming level

crosses, the single greatest cause of risk on the railways. In the

Department's level crossing reform action plan legislation was planned

but that does not make Queen's speech. It sporting such safety

critical legislation has not been treated as a priority by the

Government. -- it is disappointing that the returning to the wider

record on passport, time and again promises are broken, investment is

delayed and the interests of passengers and road users are not

preferred. -- record on transport. There was a light breeze the

Chancellor in the Queen's speech, saying the Government will continue

supporting the development of a northern powerhouse. You can tell

the honourable member for Tatton is a wallpaper salesman, these days he

spends most of his time papering over the cracks. Let's look at this

Government's real record on transport in the North. Rail

spending in the north-west has fallen from ?97 bread to ?93 per

head. In the north-east is followed from ?59 per head to ?52 per head,

less than half the national average. Under the bus services in Yorkshire

and Humber is down 31%, traffic police numbers have fallen by over

10% across the North. And shamefully, ministers hiked real

first death metal rail fares by up to 162% and they allowed more than

Trans Pennine trains to be transferred from the north to the

South, costing taxpayers ?20 million. The Transport Secretary

initially wanted causes railway pledges the real investment plan.

Until a civil servant pointed out that would be shortened to RIP.

Delays to electrification schemes were shamefully covered up before

the election and only confessed once the ballot boxes have close. There

are real concerns that promised Rory Best Mint could suffer the same

fate. -- Road investment could suffer. We have publicly discussed

the challenges on the current construction programme, including

the level of uncertainty about projects due to begin in the final

year and the potential knock-on effect on funding RIS two. Those

plans include the trans-Pennine route, and spending on existing

links on the Acity six, A6 night and' 64 stop you cannot trust the

Tories on road rail for local transport. Northern cities are

succeeding under Labour leadership in spite of this Government. I thank

my honourable friend forgiving way. 200 workers in Sheffield listened to

transport sector incredulously when he spoke about HS2 benefiting

Sheffield and that HS2 should be a reason for companies to look at

transferring jobs out of London to northern cities. Yet the Business

Secretary is currently transferring 200 jobs from Sheffield down to

London in a reverse of that process transferring down the Midland

mainline said of back-up the HS2 line. How will workers in Sheffield

feel about that contradiction to his own colleague? My honourable friend

makes a good point and it is no surprise that people in the city of

Sheffield reject this Government completely. The North was a

powerhouse long before the Chancellor arrived and it will be a

powerhouse long after he has gone. An HS2, the Government's delivery

has been anything other than high-speed. A decision on the route

of phase two has been delayed by two years. And I would like to remind

the ministers opposite of the Conservative Party press release

that was issued in Yorkshire on April the 2015, it's not about camp

are's campaign bus expenses. No question from the local media were

allowed and it's not difficult to see why, it said: Phase two of HS2

will also start construction from the northern end, with the leads to

Sheffield Meadowhall section made a priority to open even before the

line as a whole balance. Those plans to build HS2 from the North have

already been dropped, the ever existed, and once again we are faced

with a Conservative election promise that is being broken. Over the last

fortnight it's been reported that phase two is under review and the

prominent critics of HS2 have been invited into the Treasury to set out

the case against the project. That stations at Sheffield and Manchester

airports could be dropped along with the link that will allow high-speed

trains to run to Stoke and Staffordshire, even though the

Secretary of State has given his civic assurances in this house on

the link's future. There are specific questions that the

Government will still answer, if those reports have no basis, then

why did the Business Minister say on Sunday that we need to sort this out

or Sheffield might miss out on HS2? And the Government calls the

appropriate third party as a contribution which the transport

sector is said Manchester Airport station was dependent on been

agreed? Two months ago this house voted overwhelmingly in favour of

HS2 are specific understanding of the project. Of course costs must be

kept under control but it will be totally unacceptable if the plans

for high-speed rail in the Midlands and North were downgraded by a

regrettable and secretive review there's not forget the record on

aviation. In 2009 the Prime Minister famously said that the third runway

at Heathrow will not go ahead, no ifs, no buts. By last July this had

morphed into guarantee that I can give is that a decision will be made

by the end of the year. It's difficult to take the latest pledge

to report by the summer's -- seriously. While this is our failing

to deliver on local transport seems -- International schools, local

services are squeezed. More than 2400 bus routes have been downgraded

or cut altogether. The rail minister said a Christmas that our part of

passengers is improving journeys for everyone. But the Galletier 's

commuters are being honest buses and trains and some season tickets cost

?2000 more than they did in 2010. -- but the reality is. Actuality is at

its worst in a decade, worse than when the network was recovering from

the Hatfield disaster and ministers are considering further cut to

Network Rail's maintenance plans. The possible crisis on local roads

gets worse by the day after local upkeep budgets fell by 27% in real

terms. And even on walking and cycling, an area where the Prime

Minister had a personal interest, I'm worried that ministers might

have misinterpreted their brief. That can be the only explanation for

publishing a cycling and walking investment strategy that is so

utterly pedestrian. Targets for increasing walking journeys have

been inexplicably dropped and I hope it didn't make the secular state

will take advantage of national walking month to reduce that

session. One year ago the premise is that it was his aim to increase

spending on cycling further to ?10 a head. -- secretary of state.

Analysis of spending figures shows that Government funding for cycling

is due to fall to just 72p per head outside London. It is clear that the

Government has produced a cycling and walking investment strategy with

no investment and the promise to raise spending on cycling has been

broken. I'm grateful for the Lady forgiving way, is one of the

problems of going first and not being able to follow, asking a

number of questions I'm unable to answer but I do find it odd that she

talks about the capital investment when David Miliband said in the 2010

general election we will have to halve the share of national income

going into capital spending, that was on five live in July 20 ten.

That is what he said then and that is what their plans were, plans have

been to massively increase the investment in public transport and

transport across. Wouldn't it make a change if he took some

responsibility for the six years and their failings in this place. Across

the Government, this Government is failing to deliver the investment we

need and is failing to support local sustainable transport. But there can

be no doubt the situation would be made even worse if we left the EU.

We are on the verge of making a decision that will affect countless

generations. Europe has made real improvements to the quality of

journeys within the UK and from it to the continent and beyond.

Although we need to urgently move to real-world testing of overall

emissions from new vehicles had been emissions from new vehicles had been

reduced by 95% in the last few years. Next European standards. The

EU is a vital source of funding for international and local projects,

whether it is Crossrail, new trains or major ports and upgrades, who is

often European funded by the transport improvements we

desperately need. -- there is often. If we voted to leave airlines would

lose their current rights to access the American market, spelling chaos

for jobs in the aviation industry and some of our largest car and

train manufacturers have made it clear that inward investment and

jobs depend on access to the single market. I will close by saying that

the transport case for staying in the EU is a whelming, as it is in

other policy areas. I hope that when we plan transport services over the

coming decades that it is on the basis of a new -- renewed mandate

from Embassy of the EU. Before I call the honourable member,

there are 18 members wishing to speak in this debate, that works out

at about ten minutes, so if everybody takes ten minutes,

everybody will get in. This does exclude the SNP spokesperson. Bill

Ratcliffe. It is a pleasure to rise in support of the humble address.

The programme of government for the upcoming session contains many

welcome measures, for example my constituents will be welcoming of

the universal service obligation for internet providers to be brought in

through the Digital Economy Bill. This will mean that every UK

household will have the right to an affordable, fast broadband

connection with minimum guaranteed connection speeds, something I have

been campaigning for my constituency for some years, one of my pledges at

the general election. The more rural areas of my constituency will, I

hope, particularly welcome this policy, as many living there over

22nd rate internet connections services for far too long. I am

pleased also that through the in the direction of the neighbourhood

planning and infrastructure built there will be an opportunity to give

local communities more power to shape their own areas. I am proud of

the diligent work undertaken by members of civic societies across

the country, including my own constituency, of which I am a

member. Let me be clear neighbourhood planning is not about

nimbyism, we're not against development, and indeed I praise Her

Majesty's Government's ambition for house-building. It is about working

constructively with communities, determining sites for appropriate

development and providing the infrastructure necessary to make it

viable. Neighbourhood planning is a way to bring communities on board

with developers and therefore get more built. A case in point was a

recently established neighbourhood forum in order to establish a

network band. I'm sure honourable members will have experience of this

in their own constituencies. -- a neighbourhood plan. Whilst I may

regret the Government could not accept the amendment from the Lords

on the community right of appeal in the recent housing and planning act,

an amendment many of us supported, I hope the Neighbourhood Planning and

Infrastructure Bill would go some of the way to achieving the same

sentiment. I also welcome the education, and I commend the goal of

continuing to increase the number and quality of academy schools in

the coming years. I do, importantly, however, welcomed the fact that this

will no longer be on a compulsory basis, as previously proposed,

following a rethink from the Government. I wish to extend my

thanks to the Secretary of State for Education for taking the time to

listen to the concerns of myself and other colleagues about the programme

and this important change of tack. I look forward to working with her and

others to progress this bill, which includes the vital new national

funding formula for schools, which will end the entrenched disparities

in school funding and bring about fairness for all pupils. On a

related note, I was pleased to hear that measures will be introduced to

strengthen social services for children in care, and to increase

the number and speed of adoptions in this country. But I say gently that,

in desiring greater speed, we should be careful not to sacrifice the

suitability of placements or, as the intention of adoptions to find a

permanent, stable, loving home, a rushed process could lead to harm in

long-term process of systems being overly streamlined. The Children and

Social Work Bill will also improve social work provision through better

training and standards of social workers and mean that children

leaving care will be made aware of the ongoing services they are

entitled to, including access to a personal adviser until the age of

25. This is particularly welcome, coming just after a report on the

disparities in mental health care provision for looked after children.

And of course mental health performance is prevalent amongst the

prisoner population, and the current levels of mental health care and

service for prisoners is not to be standard and should be. I hope that

the Government will put a particular focus on improving this as it works

to build new reforming presence. The Queen's Speech also contains welcome

plans to introduce the NHS Overseas Visitors Charging Bill, which will

mean overseas visitors and migrants will be charged for using NHS

services that they are not entitled to. Entitled residence will mean

that fewer visits from the EU and EEA countries will be able to access

free health care. In the NHS, we have one of the greatest and most

envied systems in the world, but it has led to the NHS becoming the

victim of its own success, with a Charente of health tourism. Overseas

visitors coming to the UK to visit from our excellent NHS services

without making a contribution and with the British taxpayer paying the

bill. Health tourism has been particularly prevalent among

visitors from the EU, abusing the AHI scheme for too long. Hundreds of

thousands of overseas visitors as per train on our health service.

Many Britons receive treatment overseas, but the number is far

fewer than those who come here. And of course another way we could

provide a huge boost for our NHS is to stop the ?350 million we send

every week to the EU, and I fear I may be in Sanders agreement with my

right honourable friend on the front bench about this matter. -- in some

disagreement. Those contributions are enough to build a fully staffed

NHS hospital every week. However, Madam Deputy Speaker, this is not

the only way that the EU is currently threatening our NHS, and

unfortunately the Gracious Speech did not address it. The

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, which the EU

was determined to pass, May but the UK Government and the NHS facing

legal challenge from foreign corporations if we refuse to put

some of our public services, including the NHS, and to tender for

privatisation. TTIP could forced the partial privatisation of the NHS,

and there would be nothing for the UK Government or the British people

to do about it, were we to stay as a member of the EU. We on these

benches must not be blind to the issue and leave it to other parties

to make the case. Now, the symbols and surest way, therefore, to

protect the NHS from the unbearable strain of visitor costs, forced

privatisation, and the amount of money that would be the new hospital

every week, would be for Britain to leave the EU. There is going to be

at some stage a trade agreement between the EU and the United

States. If we want to protect ourselves from any unintended

consequences, it is best to be in there, arguing the case as part of

those negotiations, rather than having to stay on the outside and

then except the negotiation once it is done, whatever is included in

that agreement. I thank the honourable gentleman for his

intervention, but if it was a risk of sacrificing our own sovereignty

and the ability of this demand to determine its own public policy in

the process of international tribunal is determining matters

between governments and companies, then I would quite frankly except

President Obama's offer to be at the back of the queue for such an

agreement. I will go further, because I was delighted to hear in

the Queen's Speech that the Government will continue to

strengthen national security for investment in the Armed Forces and a

commitment to the Armed Forces covenant, and a promise to fulfil

our Nato commitment of 2% spending on defence. Let us not forget that

it is first and foremost our work and friendship with allies through

Nato, not the European Union, that maintains our security on the

international stage. The world is a turbulent place, Madam Deputy

Speaker, but our security and defence forces keep as strong, and

it is right that the Queen's Speech recognises and protect that. Now is

not just the time for strengthening our national governance is. We will

soon come to a time and the British people will need to sew the strength

of their convictions, and I hope they will do the right thing for

Britain and vote to leave the European Union next month, allowing

us to forge new and prosperous relationships with neighbours all

around the world, and not just the ones on our doorstep. However, I am

heartened by Her Majesty's Government Gracious Speech, as it

lays out a positive programme for government for the next year. It

means that after the referendum vote on June 23, I am confident, and

indeed hopeful that on the 25th of June we will have a strong

Conservative majority government who will go on and lead is united to a

Britain brighter and better both at home and abroad. Drew Hendry. Thank

you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I associate the SNP group the comments

from the Secretary of State about the Egyptian air incident, and of

course those of the shadow minister as well this morning. During my

remarks, I will focus on three themes, firstly the measures that we

in the SNP welcome, at least in their outline descriptions.

Secondly, the areas where we feel that other options and measures

could have and should have been incorporated, or should be

incorporated, and it is never too late, of course, for ministers to

take heed of these ideas and take them forward, so I hope they are

listening carefully. Thirdly, the actions and examples and lessons to

be learned to take the steps required to deliver for the people

of the nations of the UK. Before that, however, I'm sure that the

Secretary of State will join me in welcoming Fergus Ewing MSP to his

new position of Cabinet Secretary for rural economy and connectivity,

and also the new Minister for transport in the islands. I would

also like to put on record my thanks to the former cabinet secretary and

Minister Derek Mackay for their work, some of which I will refer to

today, both now performing new roles in the Scottish and Cabinet, and I

am sure that UK Government ministers will agree they have worked

positively with them during their time in office. Madam Deputy

Speaker, I am happy to give way. Can I echo what the honourable member

says? Can I also say that I had heard of the appointments just

before I came into the chamber but very much hope that we can work

together positively in the future on a number of issues which affect both

Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. And I'm sure that weather

is a progressive move, that will be the case. Madam Deputy Speaker, I

said that I wanted to start with the areas weather is a common purpose,

and there are some innovative measures on transport, or at

promises of innovative measures in transport. That said, to gain

support, the rhetoric will need to be followed with an inclusive vision

that benefits all of the nations of the UK. An area where this is not

yet clear if the investment in further research into autonomous

vehicles. Obviously, safety implications and deployment will be

considerations, and, Madam Deputy Speaker, this investment is most

welcome but will be meaningless to most of the UK nations if it is not

supported by the required investment in delivering a truly universal

Mobile complications network. Let's not yet again take the approach

where the benefits are only seen in some urban areas of the UK. Future

network licensing deals should have the conditions of contract as a

requirement for rural areas to be prioritised. In these areas all

across the nations of the UK, they have suffered for decades because of

ill thought out strategy and indeed the ignorance of the needs of those

outside the larger cities. Linked closely to this is the need for

broadband infrastructure. Madam Deputy Speaker, the SNP have

campaigned for a universal service obligation for broadband and are

pleased that this is included in the Digital Economy Bill. The Scottish

Government is committed to superfast broadband to 100% of premises, all

businesses and homes, and when I recently at the Leader of the House

in this chamber to match that ambition, he said he did not know

how it could be done. It is hoped that the UK Government have figured

this out and will roll-out and demonstrate action that matches the

words. If it does, that is positive news. UK infrastructure commission

is also welcome, but only if it looks beyond the old horizons and

prioritises infrastructure for, as I say, all the nations of the UK. To

achieve this, more ambition is required in the development and

deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure, and I agree with the

remarks made earlier by the Labour front bench on this. In addition to

autonomous vehicle investment, the two must go hand-in-hand. If that is

to happen, it is good, but let's see the detail and that ambition

matching what is being said. We possibly entering a point and

development where, counterintuitively, roads may

actually have the potential to provide another vision for the

future of transport. I would like to see the explored more by the UK

Government. Green travel, indeed greener travel measures in general,

we would have sort greater ambition from the UK Government. While the

recent Budget did not remove salary sacrifice games aiding the promotion

of cycling, and that is to be welcomed, there is huge opportunity

for further investment in cycling. This leads to how the atoms for

people and healthier economic benefits. But the lack of a detailed

implementation plan for accelerating cycling infrastructure is something

we would urge ministers to reconsider. -- healthier outcomes

for people. Where is the promised strategy? Given the stated

objectives, why is it not a headline this time? What is needed is greater

vision, greater urgency, proof that the words equal a true commitment.

The SNP Scottish Government are investing ?1 billion annually into

public transport and other sustainable transport options to

encourage people to get out of their cars. But since 2011, Scotland has

built 190 calamities of cycling and walking paths to match the

commitment to healthier lives for the people of Scotland where we have

seen an increase of around a third of people cycling since 2003. -- 190

kilometres. The Secretary of State mentioned HS2

earlier. But he ominously omitted Scotland from his list. The Scottish

Government are committed to working in partnership with the UK

Government on HS2, but the UK Government must demonstrate that

their commitment is factual. Will he confirm that is correct and he will

commit with this and he will go to Scotland with the full investment

needed? HS2 is not the only possibility for a cross-border rail

development. The Borders rail link, a programme delivered on time and

under budget by the Scottish Government is now open for

investigation for going all the way to Carlisle. The Scottish Government

will support a feasible study will stop with the UK Government match

that to see if it can be realised for the people of the Borders? Was

the future of green travel exists for service users through active

travel and the development of road, rail and electric, especially if

powered by renewable sources, there remains no vision for the UK

Government on alternative air travel. The UK is stuck in the

vapour trails on this issue. Oslo has become the world's first airport

to offer a sustainable biofuels to all airlines with Lufthansa, SAS and

KLM already signed up. In the UK there is no such commitment. The UK

Government can change this and I would urge ministers to include

aviation in the renewable transport fuel obligation. We welcome the UK

Government's commitment to do more to the UK airspace strategy. It is

overdue. We ask that action in this area be accelerated to address the

deficit of more than 40 years. To ignore this poses an increased risk

of delays and a damaging impact on commerce. Tackling this and coming

into line with the European Commission initiative offers an

opportunity to boost the UK economy and provide a benefit for all of the

UK nations. But, speaking of things up in the air, whilst nobody will be

shocked by a lack of commitment to decide on airport expansion, it

remains the elephant in the room. Our frustration is shared by the

ministers on these benches. I am certain freed from the internal

pressures they would have made a decision, but they remain paralysed

by the orders of internal party politics. Madame Deputy Speaker, you

were in the chair on a previous occasion when I overran on a

response to the statement on yet another delay to airport expansion,

whether government ministers and the Prime Minister promised a full and

final decision, promises broken over and over. When a person sees and

hears that long catalogue of missed opportunities for leadership, what

becomes understandable is the frustration and anger of these

delays. Rather than repeat the exercise, let me quote the words of

the Secretary of State from way back on October 2000 and 12. He said in

the South east of the runways are filling up and the Jets are circling

our skies. That is hitting our prosperity, it is bad for the

environment, it is bidding of investors, it is costing jobs and it

is holding Britain back. Madame Deputy Speaker, he was right. Nearly

five years ago he was right and in spite of those sage words of the

runways are fuller, more Jets are circling and the environment

continues to be damaged and investors have been put off. Who

knows how many jobs it could have cost? I am grateful to the

honourable gentleman. He has now had time to study the Davis report,

perhaps he will now tell us which option he supports? I would be

delighted if the Secretary of State and the UK Government wants to hand

control of development of the UK infrastructure over to the SNP. Like

the Borders rail link, like the Queensferry Crossing, we deliver

things on time and under budget. By all means give us that decision and

we will make that choice for you. Let me come on to wipe this is

important to Scotland. Over 90% of international visitors to Scotland's

travel by air, more than a third of those use Heathrow as a hub.

Combined with Gatwick, that is about half of international visitors

travelling through the south-east. It is not just tourism. The ?5

billion annual whiskey industry, the salmon industry and other exporters

need to get international markets. All the time a decision is fudged

this harms the Scottish economy. There is another air opportunity

open to the UK Government. Not just to Scotland, but to many other parts

of the UK, and that is by bringing forward a commitment to public

service obligations linking regional airports, point-to-point with the

London hubs. This would be a much more enlightened and inclusive

airport strategy. Our strategic choice is indeed needed. We also

support the establishment of a UK spaceport. This is an exciting

opportunity and again subject to how this is progress, we see this... I

am happy to give way. I wonder if my honourable friend would ask the

Minister to clarify that in his statement, and I was trying to

intervene and he did not hear me, was that he mention it would be up

to market forces to decide where the spaceport was. We have had

discussions in this place in the past talking about awarding a

licence to UK spaceport, but you need multiple licenses because you

have to license every vehicle. Maybe you could ask on my behalf whether

the minister would clarify whether he is going to let the market make

the decision and whether there will be the possibility of multiple

spaceport is. It is a very important point and I think you have made

questing clear, but I am delighted to ask the Secretary of State to

respond. We see this development as having great possibilities and would

anticipate the UK Government wilfully appreciate the excellent

potential sites in Scotland. We encourage the UK Government to work

with the Scottish Government, Scottish local authorities and

public agencies to realise this potential in Scotland. We would also

welcome more detail on developing a genuine aerospace strategy. Part of

this must be the investment to address the skills gap in the

engineering sector. I would urge ministers to consider some of the

work progressed in gender balance issues. It was not that long ago

that I quoted the deputy director for the National Aerospace programme

with over 40 years experience. She highlighted her struggles as a woman

in the industry with only 11% of women, even with 20% graduates of

women. This is the lowest female employment in this sector across

Europe. There are apprenticeship opportunities in shipping. Transport

should include reference to shipping. The Scottish Government

work tirelessly, as they did with the Scottish steel issue, to save

the iconic Ferguson shipyard, vital to providing vessels and employment

for the future. Of course in this place the decision has been to put a

delay on the order over the review of shipbuilding and that delay

threatens jobs in Scotland just now. I hope the ministers opposite will

take this message back to their Cabinet colleagues and get the

Treasury to release the brake on that particular development. Madame

Deputy Speaker, on the subject of shipping there is also an

opportunity to put right the dangerous deficit that has been

allowed to continue parentheses of the UK and particularly in Scotland,

nowhere more striking than on the West Coast. The right honourable

member for Murray has highlighted the dangers of maritime aircraft

patrol for Scotland. When added to the removal of Scotland's two

emergency towing vessels, it is easy to see why ministers opposite are

facing calls from every quarter to commit to permanently securing the

remaining vessel and reinstating the second. These are vessels that have

deployed sensitively and can assist drifting ships, prevent them from

running aground, head of disaster, protecting human lives and fragile

environments. They are called emergency towing vessels for a

simple reason, they are available for emergencies, such as when they

were called into rescue one of the nuclear submarines that had run

aground off Skye. Anyone and everyone who understands the risks

indices around Scotland, from the industry, from the unions, every

Highlands and Islands MP and MSP and local authorities and agencies are

all pointing out we cannot wait for another disaster to happen before

there is a reaction. There needs to be protected in order to prevent

such a disaster. To conclude what the nations of the UK need is not

just more words of support for good ideas, but a conductivity strategy,

a plan for air, technology, for suitable, sustainable fuels, a plan

for marine operators, a plan for health and well-being, tourism,

trade and enterprise and a plan for productivity. We must see more and

better work from the UK Government on these fronts. Thank you, Madam

Deputy Speaker. I am grateful for being called early in this debate. I

must give advance apologies for not being able to be here at the wind-up

at the end. I have to answer an invitation from her Majesty the

Queen to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace this afternoon. I

am sure the Minister will understand I am keen to keep that one.

Yesterday in the speech we learned of the government's plans to ensure

that the UK will be at the forefront of new forms of transport in the

modern transport bill. It is an exciting time for the country as we

push forward towards a modern transport revolution which includes

the potential of the UK's first commercial spaceport, something I

shall return to later. The magnitude of the progress we are poised to

make becomes very clear when you consider the many years and neglect

our transport system has suffered, particularly for those of us" while.

However, at long last we are seeing serious investment in the county's

infrastructure that will create the opportunities for the future. ?60

million project for the main link to Cornwall and the rest of the country

is well under way and will relieve massive congestion and delays. I am

incredibly proud to be part of this government that is finally

delivering on this project which was cancelled by the Labour government

when they came to power in the 90s. A further nine mile stretch of the

single carriageway further west on the a 30 is due to be upgraded. This

route experiences at 25% rise in traffic flow in the holiday periods,

so you can understand how important projects like this are for the

ongoing growth of this area. For many years residents of Saint

Austell have been making impassioned calls for an upgrade on the road

between Saint Austell and the A30. Now they're called have finally been

answered by this government. This project is planned to go ahead next

to funding will have a significant and positive impact on congestion

and traffic issues in my constituency, as well as an lock

future potential economic growth. But it is not just the roads that

are being upgraded. The South West will benefit from new trains,

replacing ones that are 40 years old. An upgraded sleeper service, as

well as reports into cutting journey times between London by half an hour

and a much needed additional route through Devon. Meanwhile, passenger

numbers at Cornwall Newquay airport continue to grow and thanks to the

government's backing, it has been able to fly into the jet age with

its link to Gatwick as well as seeing new routes opening up.

Through all this Cornwall has been transformed and its potential is

starting to be realised, but there is still much more to do. With our

unquestionable appetite to demonstrate our aspiration for

growth and better times ahead, Cornwall finds itself edging towards

the forefront of the next generation of travel opportunities and is

proving itself to be the right choice for the UK's first spaceport.

While we wait for the criteria to be released, it is clear that Newquay

has established itself as the front runner in this process. I put to you

it is the best option of the six short listed. Newquay airport

already has a wide and long runway, with the added bonus it has the

capacity to be extended fairly easily. The airport is established

and thriving and goes from strength to strength and will embrace the

growth and development the spaceport would bring. The proposed site is

ideally located next to the coast. It has easy access to uncongested

airspace and is not in a densely populated area. Making Newquay's bid

even more attractive either hugely beneficial links that exists between

the neighbouring enterprise zone. After the Chancellor announced the

expansion of that zone, the boost for choral's space ambitions works

to make the area and even more attractive for commercial

investment. As well as permitting the possibility of space tourism and

high-speed travel, the spaceport would embrace the commercial

satellite market even further. The UK is a world leader, but with a

spaceport we could finally secure launching satellites on our own. It

is antennae but that it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for

Cornwall and my constituency to transform our economy. -- it is

undeniable. We will see job opportunities and well-paid careers

in cutting-edge opportunities in one of the lowest paid areas in the

country, higher paid jobs, as well as welcoming new people to the area,

the next generation of skilled Cornishman and women will be a body

stay in the county they love to call home. -- will be able to stay. For

decades, they have been torn between their love and desire to live in

their beautiful homeland or seek serious job opportunities elsewhere.

I count myself lucky to have been able to make a living for myself

without having to leave Cornwall, working in a number of sectors over

many years, as well as running my own business. But this is not the

case for many of my peers, who were forced to move away in search of

other opportunities. But it is still happening today with scores of

talented, skilful young people leaving Cornwall behind, often never

to return. This has gone on for too long, but we can stop this. Our

young people deserve a chance, a real opportunity, just as much as

the rest of the country. It is clear the spaceport needs a home that will

embrace the brand-new sector of space tourism, and Cornwall can and

will pioneer this. As well as boosting visitor numbers from within

the UK even further, this could be the key that finally gets a large

proportion of the country's overseas visitors to the south-west. Only a

small percentage of overseas visitors currently venture outside

of London. The benefits of this would be felt right across the

south-west. Furthermore, Cornwall has historically led from the front

and it comes to industry. Our tin mining and China clay activities are

world-renowned, and they have transformed the landscape and the

future of Cornwall. As a county, we are also at the forefront of

inventions, the mighty Cornishman Richard sugar that created the first

steam locomotive, Humphrey Davies signed millions of lives with his

safety lamp, and the first-ever radio transmission was sent across

the Atlantic Ocean from Cornwall by Marconi. But this heritage is not

stopped Cornwall being stifled, unable to build on these advances,

Cornwall has not been able to live up to its true potential. Often

forgotten by Westminster, its ambitions ignored. But the tide is

changing, and Cornwall is on the up under this Government. The granting

of the Newquay spaceport would be another major advancement for the

region, and we are ready. The county and Newquay in particular, is

already a premier tourist destination with millions of people

already flocking to the area to enjoy all it has to offer. Not only

is Cornwall readily equipped for such an influx of visitors, we

understand tourism better than anyone else. Our communities thrive

on it, and we have done so for over a century. The Government's latest

infrastructure commitments show their commitment to the county, and

the six Cornish Conservative MPs are unequivocally working hard with the

Conservative Government deliver for Cornwall. What better time now than

to push this forward? I personally feel the Government's ongoing

commitment to the county shows a belief that Cornwall holds the key

for a fairer distribution of growth, and real evidence of our one nation

vision, a belief that Cornwall can pave the way forward in this

exciting new sector, and a belief that Cornwall will deliver. Madam

Deputy Speaker, the right choice is clear, Newquay's bidder for the

spaceport holds the excitement and enthusiasm for exploration, the

spirit of adventure, and the capability of being the driving

force in scientific and technological advances. Let's make

the right choice for Newquay, for Cornwall, and for the country.

There is a great deal to welcome in this Queen's Speech in relation to

transport, and it is reassuring to see how many issues contained in the

speech do reflect the requests that have come from the Transport Select

Committee. But the real test will be whether the promised measures are

actually implemented and do not simply remain aspirations, and of

course we will have to see the important details of what is being

proposed. I am pleased that the national infrastructure commission

is to be made a statutory body charged with a strategic vision for

2050. I just hope we are not still discussing increasing hub capacity

in the south-east by that date, it is important that a decision is made

soon. Heathrow is the right location, it is important decision

is made in the interests of the country as a whole and also on

behalf of the regions and nations this country. The Northern

powerhouse too pictures in the Queen's Speech, and that is

extremely important, and again we need to hear not just more words but

say actual implementation of proposals and ideas that have been

put forward. And that means that transport for the North needs to

have effective powers and full accountability, and I don't see any

mention of that in this Queen's Speech. It is of course particularly

important that electrification schemes, which have already been put

forward, are properly costed and implemented. We don't want to see

any more stop start processes, where promises are made and much-needed

schemes are delayed, or indeed cancelled. And when we are looking

at much-needed improvements across the Pennines, the Trans-Pennine

improvements, the so-called HS3, I think it is very important for

members to remember that Trans-Pennine improvements are not

confined to Manchester and Leeds. They also include Liverpool,

Newcastle, Sheffield and Hull, just to name a few of the very important

places. I am very pleased that age is going ahead, but I would like to

hear more clarity from the Minister about the current stories that are

now being circulated about possible changes to the face two of HS2, and

to get maximum impact from that very important infrastructure, we need to

see high-speed 2 linked with other rail investments, as we have been

promised they will, and, for example, enabling a direct line to

be built from Liverpool to link up with HS2 and HS3, just one example

of the way in which major infrastructure investments of

national importance can also give great benefit to the regions of this

country. I am, Madam Deputy Speaker, pleased to see the Modern Transport

Bill. Its promises for commercial development, transport innovations,

is extremely important for this country, and it is something that

has to often been neglected. I note too the reference to the importance

of using new technology for road safety. It is important to note that

while the trend on road safety over a decade or so is for improvements,

there has been a change in very recent years, and in the last year

for which we have recorded figures, 2014, we regrettably saw an actual

increase in road casualties. 1705 people were killed on our roads, and

22,807 people were seriously injured. Using technology to improve

road safety is important, but technology on its own cannot do the

job. Education and promotional campaigns are extremely important,

and so is enforcement, and I would remind ministers that it matters,

yes, that we have the latest technology, but also that we have

more people enforcing the rules of the road and looking at bad driver

behaviour by having more road traffic officers. During this year,

the transport committee produced a report which showed the impact of

reductions in road traffic officers, and to improve road safety we need

to harness the technology there, but we also need education and fulsome

and, P3 go together. I do, Madam Deputy Speaker, have a special

welcome for the Bus Services Bill. For too long, buses have been

treated as the Cinderella of public transport, yet more people use buses

than any other form of public transport. They are a lifeline for

millions, enabling people to get to their jobs and to access important

local amenities. And this bill, and I hope I can repeat this when we

actually see the detail of the bill, is an attempt to put right the

weaknesses of the 1985 Transport Act, which left bus services at the

mercy of the free market, leaving local authorities to pick up the tab

for profitable services, except in London, of course, which is spared

deregulation, and which has gone on from success to success, with

franchised services using the private sector, but the private

sector being employed to follow our transport plan as decided by the

public sector, Transport for London. And in terms of the rest of the

country, when local gum and cats started to bite and financial cuts

started to be amended, local authority support for those

subsidised services inevitably fell away. -- when local government cuts.

Increased numbers of people feel left out of essential transport

services, and they are left without access to work, without access to

hospitals, and two shops, and this is not solely rural communities that

are being affected, although they have been affected very badly. It is

also significant parts of towns and cities who are losing not only

night-time services, but important daytime services as well. I want to

thank my honourable friend for making those points, and I really do

agree with the punchy has made. Night buses have just been cuts in

my constituency. -- with the point she has made. But she also agreed

that people affected include those with sight loss, and she agreed that

this bill is an opportunity to make all new buses accessible for people

with sight loss with next stop and final destination announcements? I

thank my honourable friend for comments that I certainly agree

with. A proper public transport service, including buses, has to be

accessible for all people, and proper facilities to enable people

with sight loss, and indeed people with other sorts of disabilities, it

is absolutely important to have the right facilities there, and I think

this is a very important opportunity to do that. And indeed the whole

pattern we have seen since passed the regulation is that, while

services in London, where the regulation did not take place, have

increased, services and indeed there is, services have produced elsewhere

in the country while bus fares have increased. This is not acceptable,

it cannot be tolerated any further, and the measures to try and remedy

this, quality partnerships, quality contracts, they have not resolved

the basic question, so I look forward to the publication of the

Bus Services Bill. I noticed that the proposal is to enable devolved

areas with an elected mayor to use franchise services, following the

situation and currently works in London, but I would like to see the

details of how that can be extended to other sorts of authorities as

well, and to see what financial support goes with that. The power to

make bus services accessible, accountable and effective is

extremely important, but the finance to make that a real possibility must

be there, so I look forward to seeing that. So in summary, Madam

Deputy Speaker, I do welcome some very important measures in this

bill. We need to see them and acted, and not just to remain aspirations,

we need to see proper funding. -- enacted. It is vital proper chance

but infrastructure is provided nationally, regionally and locally,

and it is also important that there are effective transport services

that are accessible and our passenger friendly, and the test of

whether this Queen's Speech will deliver those objectives is yet to

come. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I

would like to focus my remarks on neighbourhood planning and the

effect on housing delivery, but first I would like to draw the

House's attention to my member's interest. Might I say to the

minister before he leaves, the roads minister, a very quick pitch for the

A64. I welcome the ?100 billion of investment from this Parliament and

the ?13 billion in the Northern powerhouse. 250 million is being

allocated to the A64. If that improvement does not include a dual

carriageway as far as Barton Hill, it will keep that pinch point down

the road. I would ask if he would bear that in mind and look at this

for future discussions. I was astounded to hear the Leader of the

Opposition yesterday in this house claim that house-building had sunk

to its lowest level since the 1920s. The reality is quarterly housing

starts, the most reliable guide to housing activity, has doubled since

2009. It was below 20,000 at that point and the current quota is over

40,000, doubling in anyone's terms, according to the Office of National

Statistics. For further prove could I suggest members opposite visit any

building site and talk to any brickie, chippy or spiky who will

put you right. If they do not know any business people I am very happy

to put them in touch with them. I am very much welcoming of the fact that

all local authorities have to have a plan in place by 2017, but also

neighbourhood plans. They give local communities a say into what is built

where and what it will look like. Clearly neighbourhood planning must

work with local authorities to agree the numbers allocated to a

particular settlement. I am very grateful to my honourable friend who

has been generous with his time, both in terms of working with the

government, but also volunteering to visit my constituency to help our

local communities develop their own neighbourhood plans. These plans are

without question part of the solution to the increase in house

building that we need to see. I very much welcome the changes contained

within the Queen's speech to make neighbourhood planning easier and

more powerful for local communities. I do not support any community right

of appeal will stop planning is tough enough without adding more

obstacles to the planning process. However, I do think current rules

and subjective calculations with a five-year land supply can undermine

the expensive and time-consuming process of neighbourhood planning.

To give you an example, Gladman, a name that strikes fear into many

planning officers, have been successful twice recently in my

constituency, due to their ability to demonstrate the District Council

only had 1.47 years of land supply, yet nine months later the revised

analysis carried out by the local authority by Anne expensive

consultant, Hamilton District Council now believe they have an

eight year plus land supply. In effect, this creates two perverse

outcomes. A subjective approach to assessment housing market needs

incentivises the kite flying carpetbaggers like Gladman, but this

incentivises local communities from establishing a neighbourhood plan.

Even though the neighbourhood may be ahead of its own housing, a shortage

by the local authority over all can mean an inappropriate development

can be forced onto the local community. Perhaps, Madam Deputy

Speaker, I can suggest two simple solutions. They are consistent with

the recommendations of the local planning expert group that says

there is currently no definitive guidance on the way to operate the

strategic housing market assessment. One would be a definitive and

objective guidance on housing need revised only at specified intervals.

If I might suggest a brutally simple formula, we have 26 million homes in

the UK and we need to build 250,000 homes per annum. If each local

authority group build a minimum 1%, we would meet our national housing

targets. Secondly, a housing delivery chest for a neighbourhood

planning area. If the neighbourhood was hitting its prescribed numbers,

it could not be subject to an aggressive application based upon

local authority under delivery. This would deter the kite flyers and

encourage and incentivise more communities to develop their own

neighbourhood plans and bring forward schemes that communities

proposed and consented to. I am interested in his comments about

common basis for assessing housing need. It is something the Select

Committee recommended, it is something that Lord Matthew Taylor

recommended in his work on planning guidance. It would take a lot of the

heat out of local controversy about how numbers are arrived at. I think

he is putting forward a very good proposal that the government ought

to take seriously. On many occasions in the Select Committee we are in

full agreement. I want to move onto another very important area in my

community, the number one business priority in the UK, for many

business people in my community, according to every business person

you speak to, or according to the Institute of directors, it is access

to digital connection, superfast broadband and mobile phone networks.

To give the government credit, we have seen a step change in access to

these networks since 2010, even in rural North Yorkshire. 88% of

premises are now covered by superfast broadband and 91% will be

by 2017 and 95% by 2019. But there is a growing gap between the haves

and the have-nots. The voices of those without broadband

understandably grow louder and more vociferous. For a home or business