:00:08. > :00:15.welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage from the House of Commons.
:00:16. > :00:19.In an hour's time Chris Grayling will outline the forthcoming
:00:20. > :00:25.business in the chamber and take questions. After that MPs will
:00:26. > :00:29.debate two issues. The first on the privatisation of the land Registry
:00:30. > :00:37.and then a debate on bank branch closures. Join me for a round-up of
:00:38. > :00:41.the day at 11pm tonight. First, questions to Transport Secretary,
:00:42. > :00:44.Patrick McLaughlin, and his team of ministers. The first question is all
:00:45. > :03:04.about the cost of public transport. Realtors are raised by 0.7% last
:03:05. > :03:09.year thanks to the Government's cap meaning they rose by less than
:03:10. > :03:14.earnings for the first time since 2003. Outside London, deregulated
:03:15. > :03:23.bus fares rose by 1.7% last year with the Government spending 1.7 a B
:03:24. > :03:29.that by 1.7 pounds a year. I thank the Minister for that
:03:30. > :03:32.response but what a quarter of unemployed 18-24 -year-old is
:03:33. > :03:36.finding the cost of a bus fare is a barrier to getting a job and what
:03:37. > :03:42.steps does the Minister intend to take to ensure young people have
:03:43. > :03:48.access to work and training? There are concessionary fare
:03:49. > :03:53.targeted exactly at that group. Both on the rail network where there are
:03:54. > :03:57.specific discount fares for job-seekers and often this is a
:03:58. > :04:02.matter for local authorities to work with the bus operators and the boss
:04:03. > :04:09.Bill at committee stage currently gives local authorities additional
:04:10. > :04:13.powers, should they choose to use them.
:04:14. > :04:16.After many years of conservative in deregulation and privatisation we
:04:17. > :04:20.find many of our bus and rail operators are owned by European
:04:21. > :04:27.companies, some by European governments, indeed. Given we're not
:04:28. > :04:31.exactly flavour of the month in Europe and British passengers are
:04:32. > :04:35.subsidising other countries, what can be Secretary of Street fail us
:04:36. > :04:39.to reassure us we will not see our fears arise as a consequence?
:04:40. > :04:45.It is a pleasure to see the gentleman on the front bench
:04:46. > :04:49.morning. They may have ownership structures involving foreign
:04:50. > :04:55.entities but any operator in the UK is a UK based company employing UK
:04:56. > :05:00.staff headquartered in the UK and continuing to invest in a successful
:05:01. > :05:04.rail and bus programme across the country.
:05:05. > :05:09.I am not sure that house will be entirely reassured by that. We
:05:10. > :05:12.already talked about the boss 's bill and it could be secretary of
:05:13. > :05:18.state take this opportunity to withdraw the punitive clause 21
:05:19. > :05:24.which is stopping local councils creating a municipal bus companies,
:05:25. > :05:27.successful bus companies. What is the secretary of state got against
:05:28. > :05:33.British success stories like nothing calm and Reading which do so well?
:05:34. > :05:38.We believe and parliamentary democracy and this is currently in
:05:39. > :05:42.the committee stage in the Lords and we will have an opportunity to
:05:43. > :05:50.debate these points when it comes to our chamber. Number two, Mr Speaker.
:05:51. > :05:53.I discussed emergency towing capability in Scotland with the
:05:54. > :05:56.right honourable gentlemen on June the knife and we also had an
:05:57. > :06:02.informal chat this week on the subject. That's my 9th of June. We
:06:03. > :06:09.have spoke to all interested parties to extend provision based beyond
:06:10. > :06:11.December 2016 and I intend to make an announcement soon.
:06:12. > :06:18.We look forward to the announcement. The less stakeholders meeting
:06:19. > :06:20.received a risk assessment, a proper substantial piece of work
:06:21. > :06:26.commissioned from the private sector which made it clear to remove Mr
:06:27. > :06:32.Hogg would be an unacceptable risk for the coastal island communities
:06:33. > :06:38.of Scotland. -- remove tug. Well he make sure that this is a risk
:06:39. > :06:42.assessment is on his desk and at the heart of its considerations? I can
:06:43. > :06:46.reassure the house I understand the importance of Maritime safety in
:06:47. > :06:51.these northern waters. Not only from the port of pollution and we know
:06:52. > :07:02.how dangerous oil pollution can be but also in terms of our seafarers
:07:03. > :07:06.on the water being at risk. . Ministers have had no discussions
:07:07. > :07:09.with representatives of Nottingham City Council on the use of income
:07:10. > :07:13.from their workplace parking levy scheme and officials have been in
:07:14. > :07:17.contact with officials from Nottingham City Council.
:07:18. > :07:23.Devolving power to the city of Nottingham by enabling them to do
:07:24. > :07:27.workplace parking levy has led to nothing am having the biggest fleet
:07:28. > :07:33.of electric buses in Europe, redevelopment of the rail station
:07:34. > :07:38.and the tram lines being enables to come to Nottingham and now been
:07:39. > :07:42.extended. With the Minister, to Nottingham, see these developments
:07:43. > :07:47.and also discuss what the City Council how the shortfall of EU
:07:48. > :07:53.funding will be made good sort these things can continue?
:07:54. > :07:58.I entirely agree, this is even positive time for public transport
:07:59. > :08:04.in Nottingham. The parking levy raises between its- ?9 million a
:08:05. > :08:11.year and also contributes to the tram system. -- 8- ?9 million a
:08:12. > :08:15.year. Much of the enhancements we see are coming from central
:08:16. > :08:18.Government but I would be delighted to come to Nottingham, they are
:08:19. > :08:23.doing a very good job and I would be happy to discuss the funding
:08:24. > :08:29.arrangements. Question number four, Mr Speaker.
:08:30. > :08:35.I am sure my honourable friend will join me in welcoming the
:08:36. > :08:41.introduction of an additional 9000 six on the Essex gripped by January
:08:42. > :08:47.next year and by 2024, capacity will increase by a further 16,000 seats.
:08:48. > :08:54.-- on the Essex ripped. There has been some criticism from
:08:55. > :08:58.constituents about sea to sea services. Well my right honourable
:08:59. > :09:05.friend share with the house when he expects further new rolling stock to
:09:06. > :09:11.be provided by C2C -- C2C and when he would expect the Greater Anglia
:09:12. > :09:15.franchise to be announced? They are a number of improvements
:09:16. > :09:20.coming onto the C2C line which, I know in the past, my honourable
:09:21. > :09:25.friend has been very critical and welcome many of the changes brought
:09:26. > :09:30.on by the new franchise. That does lead to changes something that can
:09:31. > :09:35.take time to bed in I know you very much welcomed the extra availability
:09:36. > :09:42.and new seats and they hope to see those in operation as soon as
:09:43. > :09:45.possible. -- and I hope. He will know the rolling stock serving the
:09:46. > :09:49.South West of England dates from the 1970s and we are eagerly awaiting
:09:50. > :09:53.are operated trains. What assessment has he and his department made of
:09:54. > :10:00.the impact of Brexit and the economic shock from Brexit on our
:10:01. > :10:03.overall investment plans for transport system?
:10:04. > :10:12.I am very pleased to be travelling on one of the new trends today. The
:10:13. > :10:22.mark of the 150 years of part of the village which serves his town and
:10:23. > :10:24.constituency. I am very... I do apologise to the right honourable
:10:25. > :10:32.gentlemen. The investment we have seen and we are seeing on his line
:10:33. > :10:37.as far as the nutrient and a new AT300 which will also serve further
:10:38. > :10:43.into the south-west are aware, and I am pleased he is welcoming that
:10:44. > :10:48.investment. Following on from the question for
:10:49. > :10:51.Southend West can the minister assure me that the East Anglia rail
:10:52. > :11:03.franchise announcement is imminent so we in the east to move out of the
:11:04. > :11:07.savings? -- sidings. I know of the desire of all my
:11:08. > :11:10.colleagues in East and that you about the new franchise and I hope
:11:11. > :11:20.not to have to keep on waiting too long.
:11:21. > :11:25.Version East Coast rail with the script the refurb of some of the all
:11:26. > :11:30.trained as like giving granny a new dress. Isn't he aware of the state
:11:31. > :11:34.of the Rolling stock on East Coast, when will it improve how can we
:11:35. > :11:43.justify that sort of rolling stock when we waste much money on HS2?
:11:44. > :11:48.What the honourable gentleman should be welcoming, which it always feels
:11:49. > :11:53.to do, as the vast investment we are seeing on that railway line. --
:11:54. > :11:57.always fails to do. He is now complaining about the upgrading of
:11:58. > :12:02.stock in the interval before the new stock arrives. I thought he would
:12:03. > :12:07.welcome that new servers and also the new service which will
:12:08. > :12:10.eventually serve Huddersfield into London.
:12:11. > :12:14.The secretary of state and myself use the Easter mainline to get to
:12:15. > :12:19.and from our constituencies. The high-speed trains on that line are
:12:20. > :12:23.rapidly approaching the end of the operating life. We'll be secretary
:12:24. > :12:26.of state insure that replacement is with new rolling stock and not
:12:27. > :12:31.recycled second-hand stock from other lines.
:12:32. > :12:37.When we come to look at the franchise for the East Midlands
:12:38. > :12:40.line, I am sure these are many of the issues that will be taken into
:12:41. > :12:45.account. It is worth pointing out that since 2010, we have seen the
:12:46. > :12:51.order of some almost 5000 new carriages for use in the UK's
:12:52. > :12:53.railway network. That is one of the biggest upgrades we have ever seen
:12:54. > :12:59.on our railway stock. Like my honourable friend, as a regular user
:13:00. > :13:10.of these midlands line, I also hope to see that get new rolling stock in
:13:11. > :13:14.due course. The Cumbrian coast rail -- railway line serves my
:13:15. > :13:18.constituency and I get complaints about rolling stock. Some of the
:13:19. > :13:21.carriages date from the 1970s. With a new franchise holder, can I ask
:13:22. > :13:26.what the Government is doing to improve the situation? Another
:13:27. > :13:29.things as far as the TransPennine route and northern route is
:13:30. > :13:34.concerned. Not least this Government will be the Government that sees the
:13:35. > :13:38.phasing out of the old train, which has always been promised and alluded
:13:39. > :13:43.to. We will actually deliver on it. I am very pleased about that. But
:13:44. > :13:48.although the honourable lady says there is more than easily done, I
:13:49. > :13:53.accept that, but the very fact that, as I say, since 2010, some almost
:13:54. > :13:58.5000 new carriages will have been ordered and put to use in the
:13:59. > :14:04.railway network is a very commendable record. With all 900 as
:14:05. > :14:11.his in construction in Woodford, residents around the area are facing
:14:12. > :14:17.daily gridlock. With the Secretary of State agreed to meet with me to
:14:18. > :14:20.alleviate this problem? I am sure that I will organise a meeting for
:14:21. > :14:25.my honourable friend to discuss this problem. We did have a bit of a look
:14:26. > :14:28.at it some time ago when I was last in her constituency. I am more than
:14:29. > :14:35.happy to discuss any transport problems that she has. I think the
:14:36. > :14:43.rolling stock is rather left the line, as I have been advised. Ie On
:14:44. > :14:47.the side of generosity. But the supplementary was at best
:14:48. > :14:54.tangentially related to the question on the paper. We will let off on
:14:55. > :14:58.this occasion! Mr Speaker, the Government will soon update is
:14:59. > :15:04.aviation policy framework as part of -- and as part of this, we will
:15:05. > :15:09.consider the service obligations serving regional airports, which are
:15:10. > :15:17.a social and economic lifeline to all parts of the UK. For Aberdeen as
:15:18. > :15:20.an international oil and gas hob, the access we enjoy to his role as a
:15:21. > :15:24.gateway to the rest of the world, it is as important is not more
:15:25. > :15:28.important as it is to its access here in this fine City of London.
:15:29. > :15:34.Aberdeen has looked at the prospect of a PS2 and would only provide
:15:35. > :15:37.access to London airport. Winning point to point access. Will the
:15:38. > :15:43.Secretary of State in sure that is considered? I would consider the
:15:44. > :15:48.representations he has made and see if it is compatible with the overall
:15:49. > :15:54.goals we want to oblige as far as public service obligation is
:15:55. > :15:57.concerned. Thank you, Mr Speaker. With the Secretary of State agree
:15:58. > :16:04.with me that these this inability and -- in stain of -- the
:16:05. > :16:23.sustainability of airports could be improved, given that such activity
:16:24. > :16:28.would benefit the UK? What proposals would deliver the desired
:16:29. > :16:31.development of regional airports? I would like to star by welcoming the
:16:32. > :16:37.honourable member to his position. I have been in this post just under
:16:38. > :16:41.four years. He is now the fifth Shadow Secretary of State that I
:16:42. > :16:49.have seen. And something like the 10th person to hold the Labour, the
:16:50. > :16:56.brief from the Labour Party on transport in ten years. In welcoming
:16:57. > :17:00.the honourable gentleman, I also say thanks to the honourable lady, the
:17:01. > :17:03.member for Nottingham South, in the way which she conducted herself
:17:04. > :17:06.whilst doing the job. Although at the moment she is sitting on the
:17:07. > :17:11.backbenches, I'm sure that that is only a temporary measure while
:17:12. > :17:15.certain things are sorted out. Mr Speaker, if I might now come to the
:17:16. > :17:22.question that the honourable member asked, which I have almost forgotten
:17:23. > :17:28.what it was! But the simple fact is, I think we agree on this. Regional
:17:29. > :17:32.airports play a vital role in connectivity. One of the issues
:17:33. > :17:36.about regional airports that was also alluded to in the previous
:17:37. > :17:40.question is the access ability into the London airport system. That is
:17:41. > :17:44.something we have to carefully consider over a number of issues and
:17:45. > :17:49.there are some later questions which might deal with some of these
:17:50. > :17:52.points. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Davies Commission report came out
:17:53. > :17:56.almost one year ago. When you tomorrow, in fact. In that
:17:57. > :18:00.commission report, it was recommended the Government took a
:18:01. > :18:18.different view over point-to-point PSNI owes. -- PSOs. Will the Cabinet
:18:19. > :18:27.said the commit to really sink -- secretary committed to releasing
:18:28. > :18:32.that information to help with PSO development. The Mayor of London has
:18:33. > :18:36.already taken the decision on that. When a decision comes through to me,
:18:37. > :18:39.we will have to follow proper process. I agree about the
:18:40. > :18:45.opportunities for people coming into London airports. Thank you for that
:18:46. > :18:49.answer. In the Davies Commission report, it also recommend that
:18:50. > :18:58.obviously we look at expansion with some urgency. Other airports might
:18:59. > :19:03.benefit through PSO connectivity like Heathrow and Gatwick. Can we
:19:04. > :19:07.finally get a decision on expansion in airports in the Southeast or will
:19:08. > :19:14.we see more and more fudge over the subject? I feel the honourable
:19:15. > :19:17.gentleman has come in a bit too early. I intend to address the
:19:18. > :19:28.points he has made on the question which is actually on the order paper
:19:29. > :19:31.at question number eight. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The UK Government is
:19:32. > :19:35.committed to the continued successful operation of these vital
:19:36. > :19:38.crossings. The Government plans to consult this autumn about the
:19:39. > :19:45.proposed halving of Tours, which represent a massive saving for
:19:46. > :19:50.users, as well as other savings. My thanks to the Minister for attending
:19:51. > :19:53.the recent meeting in the House of Commons with the freight transport
:19:54. > :19:56.Association to talk about the future of the Severn Bridges. I know that
:19:57. > :20:01.there will be a consultation and there is a real concern that the
:20:02. > :20:08.bridges will be continued to be seen as a cash cow for the Government. I
:20:09. > :20:14.won't irradiate -- I would like to reiterate that we would like Bridge
:20:15. > :20:17.tolls to come down further. I enjoyed attending the meeting and
:20:18. > :20:22.enjoyed hearing the views of businesses in Wales and Welsh
:20:23. > :20:28.members. The concessional finished when 0.29 billion is returned from
:20:29. > :20:35.tolls to the public purse. We expect that to be in LA 2018. We're working
:20:36. > :20:40.on plans for after that transition. I entirely agree that keeping tolls
:20:41. > :20:46.law will help businesses in the area. I have a large number of
:20:47. > :20:49.college and private hire contract companies are my project
:20:50. > :20:54.constituency, many who tried across the whole of the UK. They are very
:20:55. > :21:01.concerned that the consultation is not just at paper exercise and the
:21:02. > :21:06.Minister is listening. I would urge the Minister of listening to the
:21:07. > :21:11.fact that once the tolls are finished, the bridges handed over to
:21:12. > :21:14.the Welsh Assembly. Your Mac the bridges are primarily in England, so
:21:15. > :21:20.that is an interesting Welsh land grab. As for listening to the voice
:21:21. > :21:24.of us this is, if I did not, I would not have attended the meeting
:21:25. > :21:31.arranged by my honourable friend with the freight transport
:21:32. > :21:37.Association. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Secretary of State retro --
:21:38. > :21:40.regularly meet with the Home Secretary to discuss a number of
:21:41. > :21:45.things, including border security. The most recent of which took place
:21:46. > :21:50.on 26th of April this year. I understand incoming international
:21:51. > :21:54.passengers at Edinburgh airport are experiencing lengthy delays as a
:21:55. > :21:57.result of cuts to the number of Border Force officers available.
:21:58. > :22:00.Giving the increasing passenger numbers there and the increased
:22:01. > :22:03.needs for passport checks after Brexit, will the Minister take
:22:04. > :22:09.urgent action to increase Border Force numbers that this airport? I
:22:10. > :22:12.thank her for that question. I am pleased that we don't have border
:22:13. > :22:16.checks and Eric upon Tweed when I travel north. That is a question she
:22:17. > :22:20.should more reasonably put to the Home Office, who deal with these
:22:21. > :22:24.matters. But as the aviation Minister, I am aware of the whole
:22:25. > :22:27.airport experience and the long queues at immigration are not good
:22:28. > :22:35.for the experience of people coming to our country. Question eight. Mr
:22:36. > :22:39.Speaker, with permission, I will answer this question in question
:22:40. > :22:44.ten. I had thought that we were able to announce a decision on airport
:22:45. > :22:46.capacity this summer. Clearly, any announcement on airport capacity
:22:47. > :22:51.would have to be made when the houses in session. Being realistic,
:22:52. > :22:56.given recent events, I cannot now foresee an announcement until at
:22:57. > :23:06.least October. We aim to publish more analysis on airport is soon.
:23:07. > :23:10.And secondly, we will be looking at compensation for residents near the
:23:11. > :23:15.airports and connectivity to other UK apostle stop we are fully
:23:16. > :23:17.committed to delivering these important infrastructure projects,
:23:18. > :23:23.including delivering runway capacity on the timetable set out by the
:23:24. > :23:28.Davies report. It is another boring day at Westminster. I was rather
:23:29. > :23:32.hoping the Secretary of State might inject some excitement into it for
:23:33. > :23:37.me. Nobody can accuse the Secretary of State of rushing this decision.
:23:38. > :23:41.But post-Brexit, with a number of countries now banging on the door of
:23:42. > :23:45.the UK to do trade deals, doesn't he agree with me that increasing
:23:46. > :23:49.airport capacity both at London city, London Heathrow and Gatwick
:23:50. > :23:56.will be vitally important to British businesses throughout the whole of
:23:57. > :23:59.the UK? Well, Mr Speaker, I can say that I would have liked to have been
:24:00. > :24:04.in the position of asking the House to make a decision and endorsing the
:24:05. > :24:07.decision. We're not going to be in that position. We have to be
:24:08. > :24:10.realistic. I agree with my honourable friend. He may regard
:24:11. > :24:16.this as a boring day in the House of Commons but it is certain not
:24:17. > :24:19.boarding in Westminster! The Secretary of State will know that
:24:20. > :24:23.I'm going to make the case for Birmingham Airport. Could he say
:24:24. > :24:27.whether there is still time, whenever this report comes out, for
:24:28. > :24:36.Birmingham Airport to make the case for the 250,000 jobs that could flow
:24:37. > :24:39.if there is a second runway near? Mr Speaker, looking at the honourable
:24:40. > :24:43.lady's question, I do not rely she would raise Birmingham. Question is
:24:44. > :24:48.this only talks about south-east England. To the best of my
:24:49. > :24:53.knowledge, Birmingham has not moved since I knew it as a boy 20 miles
:24:54. > :24:58.away from where I lived! But, bearing in mind what she does say, I
:24:59. > :25:01.would like to say about Birmingham Airport that it is fantastic. It is
:25:02. > :25:06.a good airport. It serves a very important role as far as Birmingham
:25:07. > :25:13.and the Midlands is concerned. And it is just had a runway extension.
:25:14. > :25:18.Reassured by the Secretary of State's geographical knowledge. Does
:25:19. > :25:21.my right honourable friend accept that even if he had been able to
:25:22. > :25:28.make an announcement on this subject today, the earliest that an extra
:25:29. > :25:33.runway capacity could be provided is 2023 and, at worst, division of 30?
:25:34. > :25:46.And is on this point it the need to improve connectivity to Stansted? --
:25:47. > :25:51.at worst, 2030. Stansted is the only airport straining with the man. My
:25:52. > :25:54.right honourable friend has a habit of doing this sort of questions and
:25:55. > :26:00.transport questions. While I agree with the point he makes, perhaps the
:26:01. > :26:02.delivery of exactly how we get to what he is asking for a somewhat
:26:03. > :26:08.more difficult than he might be alluding to in his question. Yet
:26:09. > :26:14.more deadening on the decision on whether to expand capacity at
:26:15. > :26:19.Heathrow will harm the regions of this country and the United Kingdom.
:26:20. > :26:27.What recommendation will the Secretary of State the making to the
:26:28. > :26:35.next by Minister? -- next by Minister. One step at a time! She is
:26:36. > :26:39.assuming a number of events that I will not assume. What I would say
:26:40. > :26:44.is, as chairman of the transport select committee, this is a big
:26:45. > :26:48.decision for the UK and it is not an easy one. The simple fact is,
:26:49. > :26:51.whichever option we choose, it will impact the number of people's lies
:26:52. > :26:55.and therefore it is right to make sure we do all their work and
:26:56. > :26:59.preparation for this all-around air-quality and other issues. But I
:27:00. > :27:05.very much hope the decision can be made later this year.
:27:06. > :27:11.And it is inconceivable either the Home Secretary or the of London
:27:12. > :27:15.would put the constituency interests ahead of the national interest. I
:27:16. > :27:19.know that if he had sought assurance from the former Mayor of London that
:27:20. > :27:28.the Government should go ahead with this decision he would receive it.
:27:29. > :27:34.Did he seek such an assurance -- assurance and that he asked for
:27:35. > :27:37.that. This will not benefit people and Gatwick to have to put up with
:27:38. > :27:45.further uncertainty. I am sorry my honourable friend is
:27:46. > :27:50.upset with the decision given the current timetable I do not see it
:27:51. > :27:55.possible to come to the house of and get a recommendation and the
:27:56. > :28:00.statement and possible votes before the summer recess.
:28:01. > :28:04.I thank the secretary of state for his the comments but his answer is
:28:05. > :28:08.exacerbating the profound uncertainty about the future of
:28:09. > :28:12.essential transport projects including HS2 and the new Heathrow
:28:13. > :28:17.runway. Hundreds of thousands of jobs and apprenticeships are in the
:28:18. > :28:21.balance. Does he not understand the lying these plans as to the wider
:28:22. > :28:33.economic shock that was triggered last week? -- delay these plans.
:28:34. > :28:37.I say to the honourable lady, going back on familiar ground is, I don't
:28:38. > :28:42.mean to have to repeat what I said earlier. I am proud of the
:28:43. > :28:46.investment this Government is putting into infrastructure. 50%
:28:47. > :28:53.bigger than last parliament in infrastructure investment and a
:28:54. > :28:56.large amount more than put in by the previous Labour Government. This
:28:57. > :28:59.Government is committed to infrastructure investment and when
:29:00. > :29:05.she talks with airport capacity, there was an airport capacity issued
:29:06. > :29:11.for 13 years when her party was in Government, about which they did
:29:12. > :29:15.nothing. With the political and economic uncertainty following the
:29:16. > :29:19.referendum vote, infrastructure projects have become more, not less,
:29:20. > :29:22.imported for the future of the country and that is particularly
:29:23. > :29:28.true of airports and we should have a renewed importance in ensuring the
:29:29. > :29:33.UK is a global outward looking nation. The comments by the
:29:34. > :29:36.secretary of state cast doubt on this and can be secretary of state
:29:37. > :29:44.not accept that taking this decision into the long grass and yet again is
:29:45. > :29:48.simply unacceptable. I am accused of kicking something
:29:49. > :29:52.into the long grass, I said I hope to see a decision by the end of the
:29:53. > :29:57.year. What I have not seen yet is a position which has been expanded
:29:58. > :30:02.from the opposition benches as to which of the options they actually
:30:03. > :30:08.support. Question number nine, Mr Speaker. I
:30:09. > :30:13.will answer this together with questions of 14 and 15. Millions of
:30:14. > :30:24.tourists use our railways and beer products like the Brit rail pass to
:30:25. > :30:33.encourage this. We had the own infrastructure improvement to
:30:34. > :30:39.improve use on our heritage rule in -- Heritage rulings and this was a
:30:40. > :30:43.success. -- heritage rail lines. Can the
:30:44. > :30:46.Minister confirm if her department has conducted work into the
:30:47. > :30:55.potential economic boost from trade and tourism of reopening poor sham
:30:56. > :31:02.train station? Even before the honourable body took
:31:03. > :31:09.a seat she has been a campaigner for this proposal. We have a meeting
:31:10. > :31:17.next month to continue those discussions and a feasibility
:31:18. > :31:23.discussion is being undertaken and I hope it will boost tourism and
:31:24. > :31:28.increase opportunities in the area. Could the Minister provoked an
:31:29. > :31:34.update to the north Cotswold line which could provide increased
:31:35. > :31:41.tourism to Worcestershire header furniture? My deputy is working with
:31:42. > :31:46.Network Rail to look at the whole could only improve London, Oxford,
:31:47. > :31:50.Worcester train services. The department will publish its a real
:31:51. > :31:56.investment started strategy in summer 2017, setting out investment
:31:57. > :32:00.plans for the preview 2019-2024. Website it will come as no great
:32:01. > :32:05.surprise I want to raise the link about the south-west and task force
:32:06. > :32:09.agenda. I would like to ask whether she believes, like I do, they should
:32:10. > :32:13.be an economic assessment of the tourism benefit that could provide
:32:14. > :32:18.to businesses in North Cornwall for using that particular route?
:32:19. > :32:22.Mr Speaker, can I also bought out of the honourable gentleman and two of
:32:23. > :32:25.his wonderful projects were actually in Cornwall, so it was a really good
:32:26. > :32:28.effort by the provincial and the prevention of real task force will
:32:29. > :32:33.work on its report looking at all sorts of options for the heartsick
:32:34. > :32:39.that rail network and am looking forward to receiving and studying
:32:40. > :32:44.that report. -- for improving that rail network.
:32:45. > :32:48.A new metro system in south Wales with help there but the plan metal
:32:49. > :32:52.is heavily dependent on EU support. What measures will be Minister take
:32:53. > :33:00.to ensure the South Wales valleys metro system can be delivered?
:33:01. > :33:05.The investment in rail services in Wales is now devolved to the Welsh
:33:06. > :33:09.administration and so those matters are a matter for them in terms of
:33:10. > :33:12.funding. Like me and should he would welcome the fact that three of the
:33:13. > :33:21.winners of this competition were based in Wales. One of which involve
:33:22. > :33:26.cycling along disused railways and I'm sure there will be to lose
:33:27. > :33:31.benefits for those. What assessment has the rail
:33:32. > :33:36.minister made of the impact of the appalling southern and ThamesLink
:33:37. > :33:43.services and Network Rail infrastructures on the ability to
:33:44. > :33:48.list to get too cheap to destinations?
:33:49. > :33:52.The honourable gentleman and all members with constituencies served
:33:53. > :33:56.by the slide slowly: performance situation largely due to the major
:33:57. > :34:00.investment is happening in this region has not been acceptable, the
:34:01. > :34:04.Government, the operator has been working very hard to solve those
:34:05. > :34:10.problems and what was great to see was by April this year performance
:34:11. > :34:14.and climbed up to and 84% public performance measure. Not good enough
:34:15. > :34:19.but getting better. Since then the industrial actions and high level of
:34:20. > :34:23.conductor sicknesses have seen a deterioration in this measure at the
:34:24. > :34:30.mosque and unions and operator to settle their differences as soon as
:34:31. > :34:37.possible, but for tourists and commuting constituents. Question
:34:38. > :34:41.number 12, Mr Speaker. The Government has lost the first
:34:42. > :34:46.ever wrote investment strategy committing ?15 billion to hire was
:34:47. > :34:49.influenced by 2020. Work is already underway on 20 of these schemes are
:34:50. > :34:55.named in the road investment strategy. Five schemes already open
:34:56. > :35:01.to traffic in 2015-16 and work on the A14, one of the biggest projects
:35:02. > :35:07.at ?1.5 billion is on track for the start of construction later this
:35:08. > :35:10.year. Does my right honourable friend
:35:11. > :35:14.agree that the momentous events of last week and the potential
:35:15. > :35:17.opportunities may not transport infrastructures through schemes like
:35:18. > :35:23.the Lord investment strategy is more important than ever before?
:35:24. > :35:28.-- wrote investment strategy. I believe it is and not just the roads
:35:29. > :35:31.investment of real investment. The press and because these are
:35:32. > :35:42.important. They are often controversial to begin wish. -- we
:35:43. > :35:48.press on with these. Back in 2014 when the Government
:35:49. > :35:52.amends the wrote investment strategy money was promised to resort to 60%
:35:53. > :35:56.of our road network and not how we think and say that will not be bit.
:35:57. > :36:03.Where has the money gone and what has been cancelled?
:36:04. > :36:08.I must say, when coming from the Labour Party who almost completely
:36:09. > :36:13.stopped investment in roads spending and to see the record investment we
:36:14. > :36:17.are creating and cleaning up some of the mess from years of
:36:18. > :36:25.underinvestment whilst they were in office, I do not recognise the point
:36:26. > :36:32.here is made. Question number 17. -- the point he has made.
:36:33. > :36:41.The Government is fully committed to committed -- committed to carrying
:36:42. > :36:44.out this. I can I thank the Minister for visiting and discussing with us
:36:45. > :36:49.the future of the runways and connectivity but we adding credible
:36:50. > :36:55.disappointed by the decision. He knows in Dublin is due to have its
:36:56. > :37:01.airport in in 2023. We made a decision. Can we have a promise we
:37:02. > :37:05.will have a decision by Christmas 2016? I think the secretary of state
:37:06. > :37:11.was clear. There are some interesting developments. Store Bart
:37:12. > :37:17.is looking at the connection between Carlisle and Belfast which will
:37:18. > :37:20.increase connectivity and improved prospects of tourism for people in
:37:21. > :37:27.the North of England the constantly wonderful. That he represents.
:37:28. > :37:31.The third runway for Heathrow would unlock some ?60 billion in private
:37:32. > :37:37.investment. The chief executive George Best Belfast City Airport
:37:38. > :37:43.said the Heathrow hub is vital in making Northern Ireland accessible
:37:44. > :37:47.to business and leisure passengers. It is important for Belfast Northern
:37:48. > :37:51.Ireland so make the decision now. The report made clear the importance
:37:52. > :37:57.of collectivity in the south-east of the legions, north of England,
:37:58. > :38:02.Ulster, Scotland and elsewhere -- to the regions. We are very mindful of
:38:03. > :38:09.these issues raised by Collard Todd of the country.
:38:10. > :38:12.Question 18, Mr Speaker. The Department publicist with his
:38:13. > :38:19.assessment on matched with the initial local classified boards and
:38:20. > :38:22.improving with fewer that should be classified from entrance. The
:38:23. > :38:31.Government committed record levels of commitment to highways
:38:32. > :38:34.maintenance of the 2021. A total fund totalling ?20 million in this
:38:35. > :38:37.Parliament. It's a way of the difficulties my
:38:38. > :38:44.constituents face travelling east due to the problems caused by the
:38:45. > :38:49.flyover roundabout and gallows or not. At peak times this can cause
:38:50. > :38:52.completely gridlocked in my constituency. Will he raise this
:38:53. > :38:56.with the Greater London authority and work with the Mayor of London to
:38:57. > :39:02.organise a new board layout which will be of great relief to the local
:39:03. > :39:08.constituents? This matter is it matter for
:39:09. > :39:14.Transport for London because it is part of the local network. The actor
:39:15. > :39:19.have consulted on proposals earlier this year. He makes an extremely
:39:20. > :39:24.important point and I would be happy to take this up with the mere and
:39:25. > :39:35.with TfL. The most helpful way forward would be to continue to do
:39:36. > :39:38.just that. Number 19. My department allocated or ?41
:39:39. > :39:42.million of local transport funding to the west Yorkshire combined
:39:43. > :39:45.authority and nearly 233 million of the life of the parliament to
:39:46. > :39:49.improve local roads and deliver integrated transport schemes across
:39:50. > :39:55.West Yorkshire. It is for local authorities to this that dial a --
:39:56. > :39:59.to decide how money is allocated. The Minister failed to say how much
:40:00. > :40:04.had been spent in the Shipley constituency, which were the driving
:40:05. > :40:08.force behind my constituency -- behind my question. I believe the
:40:09. > :40:12.answer is very little. What it is Department doing to
:40:13. > :40:15.ensure the Labour and the west Yorkshire authorities are not just
:40:16. > :40:19.when the money in liberal heartland and are also making sure the whole
:40:20. > :40:26.of West Yorkshire is benefiting from the investment?
:40:27. > :40:29.-- the Labour heartlands. Maybe those in charge in west Yorkshire
:40:30. > :40:33.should look at some national projects where we are determined to
:40:34. > :40:40.invest where that is needed and in the North of England and it is not
:40:41. > :40:46.bound by our own partly but it is we need to stimulate jobs and
:40:47. > :40:51.contribute to the Northern powerhouse. Question number 20, Mr
:40:52. > :40:54.Speaker. We all know or rail investment and
:40:55. > :40:59.new stations provide a boost for a local economy and I am pleased since
:41:00. > :41:03.January 20 1410 new stations of opened or reopened in England and
:41:04. > :41:08.Wales, funded by the new stations funds. Might right honourable friend
:41:09. > :41:12.the Chancellor announced last year another 20 million will be made
:41:13. > :41:17.available for new station bids and that will be open for bids very
:41:18. > :41:22.soon. Giving new stations do appear to be doing so well and provide such
:41:23. > :41:27.a boost to the local economy and environment does the Minister agree
:41:28. > :41:30.the town of Wellington in my constituency is an excellent
:41:31. > :41:35.candidate for a new metro railway station? The petition we have just
:41:36. > :41:41.done showed overwhelming positivity for it and if visibility shows an
:41:42. > :41:44.economic benefit. With the Minister clarify our next steps in action the
:41:45. > :41:53.qualifying for the funding for this new stations fund? She has
:41:54. > :41:57.campaigned so assiduously on this since assuming her seat. I have met
:41:58. > :42:02.her on this and we looking forward to seeing the proposals to change
:42:03. > :42:07.the terms and conditions of the new station fund so promoters do not
:42:08. > :42:11.have to get to the stage three before the time of the submission of
:42:12. > :42:19.funding so I look forward to seeing that and other applications.
:42:20. > :42:24.Mr Speaker, there is no formal economic assessment of the impact of
:42:25. > :42:29.railway disruption, rather surprisingly, but I am in no
:42:30. > :42:36.doubt... I agree that disrupted railway is not good for the economy
:42:37. > :42:39.passengers and that is why we are so committed to returning Southern Rail
:42:40. > :42:43.a high-performance railway. The shambles we have seen is becoming a
:42:44. > :42:46.crisis. I am getting people writing to me you are late for work every
:42:47. > :42:50.day and bosses are giving them written warnings now. The Government
:42:51. > :42:55.seems to expect people to turn to bosses say, don't worry, by 2018, it
:42:56. > :43:00.will all be fine. Can the Minister tell us when this shambles will end
:43:01. > :43:04.and people can go to their bosses and tell them that things will get
:43:05. > :43:07.better? The honourable gentleman and I talk about this a lot and he knows
:43:08. > :43:11.that there was disruption as a result of this record investment but
:43:12. > :43:20.things were getting better. I point to April when we got an 83.8% rate.
:43:21. > :43:24.If his constituents would like to write to bosses, I suggest they
:43:25. > :43:29.right to union bosses, who I think that doing members a great service I
:43:30. > :43:32.bringing them out on completely unjustified grounds. This is a
:43:33. > :43:39.dispute about who presses the button is operating the doors and the
:43:40. > :43:45.change in the role of staff. There are no job losses or changes to
:43:46. > :43:50.terms and conditions. In Eastleigh constituency, we benefit from
:43:51. > :43:55.Southampton Airport and is economic productivity with four new routes
:43:56. > :43:57.this summer. Many people come in from the Channel Islands. The
:43:58. > :44:01.shameful performance by Southern Rail is affecting commuters across
:44:02. > :44:10.the south coast and into my airport, heading up to Gatwick, with flights
:44:11. > :44:14.missed and jobs cars only in peril. Can the Minister say that the huge
:44:15. > :44:21.impact from this failing franchise cannot be tolerated? Everyone
:44:22. > :44:25.understands that this railway has to get better. That is why the money is
:44:26. > :44:30.being spent and so much money is going on with the operator, Network
:44:31. > :44:33.Rail. But there are ?2 billion worth of brand-new trains coming
:44:34. > :44:37.production lines now that we would like to be running on these routes.
:44:38. > :44:42.The introduction of those trains is being held up... By the way, it is
:44:43. > :44:46.exactly the same problem in Scotland. This is a nationwide
:44:47. > :44:51.dispute about who presses the Boston is -- but it is opening the doors.
:44:52. > :44:54.It is no good having more rolling stock of the am not moving. It is
:44:55. > :45:01.not good enough to blame the unions on this. Our department has to get a
:45:02. > :45:06.grip. My constituents are furious. They are paying through the nose for
:45:07. > :45:17.an appalling service which threatens their jobs. The CEO is on a payment
:45:18. > :45:20.of ?2 million a year. Will she get a grip, stop defending the private
:45:21. > :45:26.sector, and put the franchise into accountable public and is now?
:45:27. > :45:31.Unlike the honourable lady, that is not my focus. She accepted a very
:45:32. > :45:38.large donation from the IMDB for the last election. The union have
:45:39. > :45:41.awarded themselves a 60% PMQs. They need to stop objecting to new
:45:42. > :45:42.technology that benefits are constituents and constituents across
:45:43. > :46:09.the UK. Question 22, please. LAUGHTER. As anybody got the... ? I
:46:10. > :46:17.do apologise, Mr Speaker. I rather thought we were going on to topical
:46:18. > :46:27.questions my mind -- topical questions. In the National Rail we
:46:28. > :46:31.survey report for 2016, publishers morning, 80% of passengers were
:46:32. > :46:38.satisfied with their journey. Males are real, which shares many of the
:46:39. > :46:44.honourable members' constituency, but a highly satisfactory rate. His
:46:45. > :46:49.response was as late as the trains on the line going through my
:46:50. > :46:53.constituency. It is an infrequent, unreliable and expensive service due
:46:54. > :46:55.for renewal in NXT years. When we do get that renewal, and the Secretary
:46:56. > :46:58.of State ensure that we have the highest specification possible so
:46:59. > :47:03.that we get a much improved service undercutting conditions? I very much
:47:04. > :47:08.apologise to the honourable member for the slight delay in response. I
:47:09. > :47:13.very much hope that his constituents will enjoy some of the improvements
:47:14. > :47:18.we have seen on the franchises which serve in and around his area.
:47:19. > :47:21.Although I referred to Mersey travel, there are other train
:47:22. > :47:25.operating companies providing services into his constituency. I
:47:26. > :47:27.think we will see a considerable uplift on rather than TransPennine
:47:28. > :47:36.links, which will benefit constituents. Order. Topical
:47:37. > :47:42.questions. Question one. Right. I was prepared for this, Mr Speaker! I
:47:43. > :47:46.am very proud of the fact that capital expenditure on
:47:47. > :47:50.infrastructure will increase by 50% in this Parliament. We have set up
:47:51. > :47:55.the first-ever roads investment strategy, which I answered questions
:47:56. > :47:57.on LL this morning. In all the time has been in the Department for
:47:58. > :48:02.Transport, one of the issues on which I have always placed a lot of
:48:03. > :48:07.importance is the issue of safety. I am very pleased this morning's
:48:08. > :48:10.latest statistics, published at 9:30 a.m., four road casualties in Great
:48:11. > :48:17.Britain shall oddities into percent of road fatalities. ADT 's in 3% of
:48:18. > :48:21.those seriously injured on the road. And if percent duties in those
:48:22. > :48:26.slightly injured on the road. The amount of deaths are too high on our
:48:27. > :48:31.roads but the reduction is very welcome. Can the Secretary of State
:48:32. > :48:35.confirm for dates? When will Huddersfield get us direct London
:48:36. > :48:38.service, when will the Pacers go, when will he get to link to
:48:39. > :48:46.Yorkshire, and when will the electrification of the TransPennine
:48:47. > :48:51.that begin? -- TransPennine route. Mr Speaker, off the top of my head,
:48:52. > :49:00.the answer is made to those in the 19, December 2019, 2033. As the
:49:01. > :49:05.final question, what has started and we will have to wait until 2018 to
:49:06. > :49:10.finish it. I wish I had all those figures, as you do, Mr Speaker, in
:49:11. > :49:16.my head. Extremely grateful to the Secretary of State. As my honourable
:49:17. > :49:19.friend has said, Southern Rail passengers are suffering the worst
:49:20. > :49:23.delays in the country and its staff are locked in an increasingly bitter
:49:24. > :49:28.industrial dispute. All those who work rely on this failing service
:49:29. > :49:32.deserve much better. This in the Minister think thereby ruling out
:49:33. > :49:36.the cancellation of the franchise and winding down the operator of
:49:37. > :49:41.last resort, the Parliament has no plan B and is effectively forfeiting
:49:42. > :49:44.the chance to place any meaningful pressure on the company to improve
:49:45. > :49:53.performance? -- doesn't the Minister think that by. You need to the share
:49:54. > :49:57.price of the company, showing there is considerable pressure on it from
:49:58. > :50:00.customers and my department. Changing the franchise in my view
:50:01. > :50:04.would did nothing. Everybody has to work together. There is a highly
:50:05. > :50:09.experienced management team already in place. We have an investment
:50:10. > :50:19.programme coming to an end. The fast bridge will open this summer. --
:50:20. > :50:22.first. We have to sort this out for the benefit of her pesky middles or
:50:23. > :50:33.just want to get to work and get home to their families. -- of
:50:34. > :50:36.hard-pressed commuters. Many of my constituents in the eastern side of
:50:37. > :50:40.infielder fed up to the back teeth of infrequent and unreliable train
:50:41. > :50:49.services. This Secretary of State agree that the early delivery of
:50:50. > :50:54.trains on the mainline writ offers a unique opportunity to improve
:50:55. > :51:00.services, best housing growth potential and benefit the local
:51:01. > :51:04.economy? I met with the honourable lady to talk about other issues in
:51:05. > :51:07.her constituency, following the request in the last transport
:51:08. > :51:11.questions. She also mentioned when we met the tracking. This is being
:51:12. > :51:15.met and chairmanship of my honourable friend, who is looking at
:51:16. > :51:21.the whole issue of the services to that part of London and beyond. I am
:51:22. > :51:28.looking forward to receiving that report and hopefully making
:51:29. > :51:31.progress. Cameron White on low friend tell the House what
:51:32. > :51:35.assessment has been made of the importance of transport improvement
:51:36. > :51:37.and infrastructure projects to the success of the Northern Powerhouse?
:51:38. > :51:45.And can he provide an update on progress with Mark -- progress?
:51:46. > :51:51.Transport is vital to connect the Northern Powerhouse. It helps
:51:52. > :51:56.rebalance the UK economy. I walked towards improved delivery and
:51:57. > :52:06.transportation is well under way. We have committed to spend a record ?13
:52:07. > :52:10.billion on transport in the North. Since it was reopened by the
:52:11. > :52:13.Scottish Government last year, the Borders Railway has been a
:52:14. > :52:18.remarkable success story. In the first six months of its operation,
:52:19. > :52:22.passenger forecasts were exceeded by 22% and the Scottish Government has
:52:23. > :52:27.committed to a feasibility study in restoring the line to its historic
:52:28. > :52:31.route on hike and Carlisle. Can the Secretary of State can form --
:52:32. > :52:36.confirm what dialogue Yasser with the new Scottish Transport Minister
:52:37. > :52:40.on the matter and whether he supports a new cross-border railway
:52:41. > :52:43.connection? Mr Speaker, I have not yet had the chance to meet with the
:52:44. > :52:47.new Scottish Transport Minister directly on this article issue but
:52:48. > :52:51.there will be opportunities and I look forward to our first meeting on
:52:52. > :52:54.the subject and I am more than happy to consider any other point he
:52:55. > :52:58.makes. He makes the point rightly about what happens when new services
:52:59. > :53:05.are provided, particularly on real ways. We often see a greater uptake
:53:06. > :53:19.than a something is planned. My constituency welcomes... Can he is
:53:20. > :53:25.sure that Crossrail has the money to undertake an extensive consultation?
:53:26. > :53:29.I am well aware of the concerns of the local constituents of my
:53:30. > :53:35.honourable friend to the current plans. Both DSL and Network Rail are
:53:36. > :53:37.investigating the feasibility of a number of alternative options which
:53:38. > :53:43.potentially could timeline and reconfiguration of stations in the
:53:44. > :53:46.area. Of course, we will continue to consult on this. As my honourable
:53:47. > :53:50.friend knows from his involvement in many major transport systems. There
:53:51. > :54:01.is a lot of consultation before we start building or digging the tunnel
:54:02. > :54:06.for the area. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Behind closed doors in February,
:54:07. > :54:10.members agreed to allow the cancellation of even more services
:54:11. > :54:15.without reaching their contract. Increasing them up to 32,000
:54:16. > :54:20.cancellations. MPs were told about this last day before recess in May.
:54:21. > :54:25.How on earth can we have confidence in the services whenever such a
:54:26. > :54:29.delay and it appears that ministers are in cahoots, setting up risk-free
:54:30. > :54:36.contracts undermining our passengers? I would have thought
:54:37. > :54:39.that the honourable lady would have worked with as with all the
:54:40. > :54:42.investment we have put into the real weight serving her area. All she has
:54:43. > :54:49.ever done is complain and back-up the unions. It is quite unjustified
:54:50. > :54:53.as that is the new investment we are seeing. Billions of pounds on new
:54:54. > :54:57.rolling stock, massive investment in London Bridge. At she does... She
:54:58. > :55:07.complains and takes donations from the RMT. What is the department
:55:08. > :55:14.doing to ensure that the pothole action fund money is being properly
:55:15. > :55:18.spent and ensuring best practice? The pothole action fund is a budget
:55:19. > :55:22.of ?250 million across as Parliament. The first allegation has
:55:23. > :55:27.already been made in the course of this year and has been allocated to
:55:28. > :55:32.councils on the amount of highways they are responsible for. -- the
:55:33. > :55:36.first allocation. We are looking at how we can make this as efficient as
:55:37. > :55:41.possible. We backed local authorities to improve equality of
:55:42. > :55:47.their local road wet work with this. -- network. I have previously
:55:48. > :55:54.highlighted the predicted 45,000 shortage of HGV drivers in the UK.
:55:55. > :55:59.This will only get worse after Brexit. When will the Government
:56:00. > :56:03.committed to looking at the benefits of providing grants for companies to
:56:04. > :56:10.put people that are unemployed through the HGV training? I have had
:56:11. > :56:13.discussions with my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for
:56:14. > :56:20.Work and Pensions, on these matters as fat as trading and looking as
:56:21. > :56:26.well at the Department for the. As well as what can be done to move
:56:27. > :56:29.this issue forward. -- Department for business. But there are good
:56:30. > :56:34.opportunities for young people who become drivers and I would encourage
:56:35. > :56:38.them to look at it. As my right honourable friend's department made
:56:39. > :56:50.any assessment on the potential of aircraft types likely bowling 747
:56:51. > :56:55.that can fly greater distances point-to-point? We can demonstrate
:56:56. > :56:59.there are more ways of doing business in this country than
:57:00. > :57:02.landing in London. It is certainly the case that many airlines are
:57:03. > :57:09.investing in the Athree and 50, which is exclusively made with
:57:10. > :57:11.Rolls-Royce engines and the option to point-to-point doors open at many
:57:12. > :57:18.new opportunities for regional airports to provide direct services
:57:19. > :57:21.for their people. I very much welcome the statistics that show
:57:22. > :57:26.that road improvement and road safety is getting better. Those
:57:27. > :57:28.statistics mask what is really happening. The Transport Select
:57:29. > :57:36.Committee have produced a report today published, showing
:57:37. > :57:41.statistics... As disingenuously going on. I am looking for the
:57:42. > :57:46.Minister to accept this as dangerous you to do something about it. I'm
:57:47. > :57:50.aware the transport select committee had published a report this morning.
:57:51. > :57:55.I have not had chance to read it yet. The point about smart meters is
:57:56. > :58:01.art that the design to operate without, my sincerity. The evidence
:58:02. > :58:09.on the M25 show that the busiest journey times have almost have to
:58:10. > :58:18.and casualty rates are down by 21%. Safety is a priority and I will read
:58:19. > :58:20.this report with much interest. With the Minister agree that
:58:21. > :58:27.improvements are really slowly been moved if new technologies embraced
:58:28. > :58:33.and politics is not played with this? Yes. Would the Minister take
:58:34. > :58:38.this opportunity to scotch pressure boss of Treasury meddling NHS to
:58:39. > :58:41.post-referendum and confirm it will be built north of Birmingham and
:58:42. > :58:55.there will be proper services to benefit all Cheshire?
:58:56. > :59:04.I am very committed to HS2. It is very important for this country and
:59:05. > :59:27.we have already seen the benefits as far as investment are concerned.
:59:28. > :59:32.Mr Speaker, there are many funding pots, including local growth fund
:59:33. > :59:41.money that would help to regenerate the station. He has achieved one
:59:42. > :59:45.thing. Years made the Leader of the Opposition look positively decisive.
:59:46. > :59:52.Does he not believe he owes the select committee, this is in
:59:53. > :00:13.businesses across the UK and apology for this, which is a farce?
:00:14. > :00:24.I have informed the House this morning, as it is like to do so. The
:00:25. > :00:28.recent decision by the regulator to refuse direct services between
:00:29. > :00:32.Cleethorpes and King's Cross shows present rules are working more than
:00:33. > :00:36.the interest of the franchise holder rather than passengers. The
:00:37. > :00:40.Conservative Government surely support competition. When am I going
:00:41. > :00:41.to support the passengers and allow more competition? -- when are they
:00:42. > :00:54.going to support. The improvement vast that we have
:00:55. > :00:58.seen, and we're going to see as far as the franchise is concerned, and
:00:59. > :01:05.the protection of services which he campaigned for as far as a Northern
:01:06. > :01:10.franchise is concerned, the pacers so that his constituents will have a
:01:11. > :01:12.chance of using this new trains shows that we are committed to not
:01:13. > :01:25.only giving better that to My Honourable Friend 's
:01:26. > :01:27.constituency I recently extended the guide dogs lobbying Parliament and
:01:28. > :01:32.was shocked that the problems guide dog owners face trying to get a
:01:33. > :01:40.taxi. Has the Minister discussed is recently with his Cabinet
:01:41. > :01:46.colleagues? I too, have been in touch with the Garry Birtles lobby.
:01:47. > :01:50.I was taken around a cruel a few weeks ago and they showed me some of
:01:51. > :01:55.the problems which people using the system bash by using these horse
:01:56. > :01:58.often come across. Any discrimination we see about that,
:01:59. > :02:11.the law should be used and it is a ready offence for taxi drivers to
:02:12. > :02:18.discriminate against those dogs. Investment in dualling the A45 is
:02:19. > :02:26.important for the people of Northamptonshire. These are so, so
:02:27. > :02:29.desperately needed. I recognise fully the importance of these
:02:30. > :02:34.schemes to My Honourable Friend and his constituents. We're working to
:02:35. > :02:42.make sure that these schemes are delivered as soon as possible. I
:02:43. > :02:48.will keep them informed of progress. Business question, Paul Flynn. World
:02:49. > :02:55.leader given a House the business for next week? -- world leader. The
:02:56. > :03:00.Leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling. The business for next
:03:01. > :03:04.week, on Monday fourth July we'll have the first awarded estimates day
:03:05. > :03:08.when they debate important tribunal fee is followed by a debate on
:03:09. > :03:09.impacts