:00:00. > :00:00.Cooper, for a round-up at 11pm. First, questions to the Transport
:00:00. > :00:19.Secretary, Chris Grayling and his team of ministers.
:00:20. > :00:28.Order, order! Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport.
:00:29. > :00:39.Cheryl Gillan. Number one. Mr Speaker, it is too limited as
:00:40. > :00:43.demolitions, site clearances, in November 2016, with work commencing
:00:44. > :00:48.after Royal Assent and you will be aware the Bill passed its last
:00:49. > :00:52.stages prior to Royal Assent earlier this week. The main work civil
:00:53. > :00:56.contract is to construct the main physical works for the railway,
:00:57. > :01:02.including tunnels, viaducts and embankments are due to be released
:01:03. > :01:10.later this year and initial work will begin shortly after Royal
:01:11. > :01:13.Assent is completed. I expect that through the construction phase, HS2
:01:14. > :01:16.limited and my Department will do everything we can to ensure the
:01:17. > :01:22.impact of those affected is mitigated wherever we possibly can.
:01:23. > :01:28.Cheryl Gillan. It is ironic that I should draw number one on transport
:01:29. > :01:34.questions on the day the Bill for Phase 1 of HS2 gets Royal Assent.
:01:35. > :01:39.And although some people are backslapping, let us remember that
:01:40. > :01:43.it is tragic for many people. And the impact is disproportionately
:01:44. > :01:48.felt by my local authority, such as Buckinghamshire County Council and
:01:49. > :01:56.our parish councils. Can my right honourable friend reassure me and my
:01:57. > :01:59.constituents and councils that the Department for Transport will
:02:00. > :02:04.reimburse parish and county and district councils for any reasonable
:02:05. > :02:11.expenses incurred as a result of the construction of this dreadful
:02:12. > :02:16.project, HS2? Well, I am well aware that when a project of this kind of
:02:17. > :02:21.national importance is constructed, it inevitably has an effect on some
:02:22. > :02:26.of those who live on the route. And I reiterate that point and we will
:02:27. > :02:32.do everything we can to ensure the process is as reasonable and fair as
:02:33. > :02:35.possible for those affected. And with regard for local authorities, I
:02:36. > :02:40.can assure her and repeat the assurance made by my honourable
:02:41. > :02:42.friend on Monday, HS2 are putting in place service level agreements with
:02:43. > :02:47.every single local authority along the line of the route. This will set
:02:48. > :02:55.up additional funding will make available in relation the
:02:56. > :03:00.construction process. Louise Ellman. I welcome that Royal Assent has been
:03:01. > :03:04.given. Much-needed investment but can the Secretary of State tell me
:03:05. > :03:10.how he will insure promises made about jobs and training
:03:11. > :03:16.opportunities during the construction of HS2 will
:03:17. > :03:21.materialise? This is something I take seriously and we have been
:03:22. > :03:25.clear in letting contracts, most recently in the information we put
:03:26. > :03:31.into the market around the rolling stock, that we expect this project
:03:32. > :03:35.to leave a lasting skills footprint in the UK and I don't just mean in
:03:36. > :03:39.the areas of construction around the United Kingdom. A number of events
:03:40. > :03:44.have been held for potential suppliers to the project around the
:03:45. > :03:46.UK and we have been clear to all firms, in the UK and
:03:47. > :03:49.internationally, who want a to be part of the project that we expect
:03:50. > :03:55.them to believe that footprint, it is an essential part of the project.
:03:56. > :04:02.Is the Secretary of State aware that because of the decision to have a
:04:03. > :04:05.station at Sheffield, we will have two HS2 lines running through
:04:06. > :04:14.Derbyshire? A fast track and a slow track. The result is that there will
:04:15. > :04:18.be many villages affected, one in particular, in Newton, where more
:04:19. > :04:23.than 30 Houses are due to be demolished. Will he meet a group of
:04:24. > :04:32.residents from their village in order to try and sort this matter
:04:33. > :04:36.out? I am aware of the issue the honourable gentleman refers to and I
:04:37. > :04:39.give him the same assurance I have just given to my right honourable
:04:40. > :04:46.friend about us doing our best to minimise impacts. The Minister
:04:47. > :04:52.alongside me is tonight taking part in a debate where there will be more
:04:53. > :04:57.detail provided on these questions and I will meet residents to discuss
:04:58. > :05:03.the issue as well. Some of the worst affected homes on the route are in
:05:04. > :05:07.East Acton, which faces ten years of destruction, gardens have been
:05:08. > :05:12.repurchased, main access route has been blocked and a chest to's QC
:05:13. > :05:15.called my residence tedious for pointing out they do not qualify for
:05:16. > :05:19.the compensation scheme and they have not been granted exceptional
:05:20. > :05:28.status like other areas. I encouraged that emphasis has been
:05:29. > :05:34.put on mitigation, could he meet with my constituents? They wanted
:05:35. > :05:42.reserve their way of life. It is important to remain the honourable
:05:43. > :05:45.lady, these matters in relation to her constituency have been
:05:46. > :05:50.exhaustively examined, not simply by my Department but by a committee of
:05:51. > :05:55.this House and the other place. Whilst we will always be open to
:05:56. > :05:57.representations about ways in which we can minimise impact, these issues
:05:58. > :06:07.have been exhaustively dealt with by this Parliament. Number two, Mr
:06:08. > :06:14.Speaker. We're working with local authorities to improve air quality,
:06:15. > :06:18.which is so needed in our more polluted cities. Environment
:06:19. > :06:22.Secretary will consult on a new air quality plan later this spring. Does
:06:23. > :06:28.the Minister agree that diesel vehicles are part of the problem and
:06:29. > :06:35.we need urgent action on them? Is he also aware that if he reads today's
:06:36. > :06:40.published report on pollution and climate change and how Heathrow will
:06:41. > :06:43.affect that, will he bear in mind that someone who has just come from
:06:44. > :06:47.Beijing and knows the pollution there, that is not where we want to
:06:48. > :06:53.go for citizens in this country. It is important to appreciate that this
:06:54. > :06:57.is a matter of some high-flown theory about what might happen in
:06:58. > :07:03.many centuries time. It is about the well-being of people now. In our
:07:04. > :07:07.cities and elsewhere. And the direct relationship to their quality and
:07:08. > :07:13.health is well-established. Pollutants are affecting the quality
:07:14. > :07:17.of life and more so, the health and well-being of people. This is about
:07:18. > :07:21.the defence of the common good and as he knows and the whole House
:07:22. > :07:31.names, that is always central to my heart. I would urge ministers on the
:07:32. > :07:36.Government to do something about the older diesel car is, either taxes or
:07:37. > :07:42.a scrappage scheme, because we can get electric vehicles and and we
:07:43. > :07:47.need to deal with inner-city hotspots of pollution. As we tackle
:07:48. > :07:55.that, we will not reduce levels. Just this morning, I was with motor
:07:56. > :08:01.manufacturers no less than 16 of them, looking at low emission
:08:02. > :08:09.vehicles. It is vitally important. We published this week our
:08:10. > :08:12.technology and aviation Bill, dealing with the issue of electric
:08:13. > :08:19.car charging infrastructure, amongst other things. One can deal with this
:08:20. > :08:25.by sanction and penalty, or we can deal with it by encouragement and
:08:26. > :08:34.incentive and a change of mind. I prefer to look on the positive side
:08:35. > :08:38.of these things. The penalty will be the millions of pounds of fines
:08:39. > :08:40.faced by our constituents because of the Government's in action and
:08:41. > :08:45.failure to Act on this. When will we hear practical action from the
:08:46. > :08:48.Government, to reduce the number of diesel vehicles? He has not answer
:08:49. > :08:56.the question. This is the second biggest avoidable killer, air
:08:57. > :09:01.pollution, after smoking. Let's be clear, we have made progress. In
:09:02. > :09:09.2016, UK has been the largest market of ultralow vehicles and the EU and
:09:10. > :09:16.global leader. I am sure the honourable gentleman, in the usual
:09:17. > :09:21.spirit of bipartisan generosity, will welcome the announcement in the
:09:22. > :09:24.Autumn Statement setting out a further ?290 million of funding for
:09:25. > :09:28.live emissions vehicles. He says he wants action, what more action can
:09:29. > :09:36.you have done that? The policy, the legislation, the resources, we are
:09:37. > :09:38.taking action. The honourable gentleman, perhaps because it is
:09:39. > :09:46.Thursday morning and he's feeling grumpy, but he ought to welcome
:09:47. > :09:50.that. Mere point out that figures from the environment committee from
:09:51. > :09:54.2015 set out why it is wrong to demonise diesel and diesel drivers.
:09:55. > :09:59.Diesel cars account for just over 10% of all emissions in London. The
:10:00. > :10:11.same amount, nearly, of buses. And of ageing trains and of ground-based
:10:12. > :10:17.aviation, it is not simply diesel. I thought as this short discussion on
:10:18. > :10:22.low emission vehicles has become, I thought of Proust, who said, in the
:10:23. > :10:26.real voyage of discovery is for those not seeking new landscapes by
:10:27. > :10:35.having new allies. And using those eyes to see to the future, is
:10:36. > :10:40.necessary for us to be ambitious and television about where we can go in
:10:41. > :10:47.terms of low emission vehicles. -- and have the vision. We will
:10:48. > :10:52.continue to make more progress and the plan I will release this spring
:10:53. > :10:55.will set out exactly what that will look like. Thinking of the
:10:56. > :10:59.manufacturers of diesel vehicles, one in particular, the Minister
:11:00. > :11:03.knows my interesting, is Volkswagen. Can the Minister confirm from the
:11:04. > :11:05.dispatch box the extraordinary and contradictory evidence that the
:11:06. > :11:11.Transport Committee received on Monday from its managing director,
:11:12. > :11:17.that he has not given his Department everything they have asked for? The
:11:18. > :11:23.honourable gentleman was at that committee in which he serves and he
:11:24. > :11:28.will have her at the extraordinary, little short of ridiculous,
:11:29. > :11:33.statements made by Mr Willis on that occasion. I have met Mr Willis and a
:11:34. > :11:41.Volkswagen on numerous occasions and asked them for things.
:11:42. > :11:49.Quicker retro- fit will be a call is, compensation the customers that
:11:50. > :11:54.are affected and for the money to be paid in full, that because tax had
:11:55. > :11:59.to spend as a result of what they did. None of those things have been
:12:00. > :12:04.done to my satisfaction, which is why I have again written to Mr
:12:05. > :12:08.Willis setting out exactly what our government demands are, not
:12:09. > :12:15.government demands, demands on behalf of the people. Thank you, the
:12:16. > :12:19.public a very perplexed about where we're going on diesel cars, would
:12:20. > :12:23.the Minister in sure that he remembers that many people bought
:12:24. > :12:28.diesel cars because they knew it was going to be a cheaper car to run.
:12:29. > :12:33.Yet, it was more expensive. They cannot afford to make the changes
:12:34. > :12:37.that are coming forward, would the Minister recognised this? Certainly
:12:38. > :12:42.true that we need to make the transition to low emission vehicles
:12:43. > :12:50.affordable. When I owned a business... A government that
:12:51. > :12:56.champions the cause of ordinary working people, access employment
:12:57. > :13:00.and other opportunities in a way which I think the whole house would
:13:01. > :13:07.expect, so it is absolutely right that we take a message view, having
:13:08. > :13:12.said that we have to make more progress and being measured doesn't
:13:13. > :13:15.mean being complacent. We will make that progress and we will change
:13:16. > :13:22.minds and change behaviour through what we do. Thank you, following the
:13:23. > :13:26.transport select committee earlier in the week and night right in
:13:27. > :13:30.thinking that the situation at false wagon is now one that the company
:13:31. > :13:36.denied any wrongdoing in the UK and still felt obliged to fix 472,000
:13:37. > :13:41.vehicles with another half million to look at. They say they have
:13:42. > :13:44.provided the government would all be information requested, but the
:13:45. > :13:47.Minister denied that this is the case and that Volkswagen are built
:13:48. > :13:54.using to publish the report that they themselves have commission. So,
:13:55. > :14:01.has the Minister told the House in November that he has a steely fist
:14:02. > :14:05.inside his velvet glove, if folks back and did not meet their
:14:06. > :14:09.obligations, could he tell the House to date what that steely fist will
:14:10. > :14:15.mean and what he will do when you need a box wagon again, next month.
:14:16. > :14:20.To establish best of all, the detail of what blogs wagon had done and
:14:21. > :14:28.what they haven't. I think it might be best if I let the honourable
:14:29. > :14:31.gentleman, and the House see a copy of the letter I've written to Mr
:14:32. > :14:36.Willis which sets out how they have not done what the government had
:14:37. > :14:41.asked. Secondly, I am determined to use every avenue to push you in the
:14:42. > :14:44.interest of the consumable stop this equity stake and I will be
:14:45. > :14:50.travelling to Bellerin to meet counterparts to have these
:14:51. > :14:54.discussions as much of the evidence lies there. I have met their legal
:14:55. > :15:01.representatives of those consumers who are moving off private property
:15:02. > :15:05.to Keating comment yesterday. I will leave no avenue or unexplored, no
:15:06. > :15:16.stone unturned, Maesteg best is now galvanised.
:15:17. > :15:20.LAUGHTER. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. The government has strongly
:15:21. > :15:25.supported the north of England's local authorities and local
:15:26. > :15:32.enterprise part two is to come together and... They have committed
:15:33. > :15:34.?50 million to this to produce a comprehensive strategy to support
:15:35. > :15:46.delivery of the wider Northern Powerhouse strategy,... It was
:15:47. > :15:50.revealed that London get ?15 million more transport spend per head than
:15:51. > :15:54.the North, yet a one Crosswell project we could connect the four
:15:55. > :15:59.major cities of the Powerhouse and that all existing runways utilising
:16:00. > :16:03.the spare capacity and adding 100 million to the capacity and creating
:16:04. > :16:09.many new jobs. Does the Minister agree with this? Thank you, I am
:16:10. > :16:16.aware of the report, we are awaiting the recommendations about Northern
:16:17. > :16:21.Powerhouse rail. It is just a snapshot of where we are at the
:16:22. > :16:27.moment. The situation will look extremely different in a few years'
:16:28. > :16:35.time. Thank you, is the Minister aware that a 21% cut on top of
:16:36. > :16:39.existing cuts to the mode shift revenue support grant will have a
:16:40. > :16:47.devastating effect on the rail freight sector in the north of
:16:48. > :16:51.England and could lead, overall, two of 290,000 extra lorry journeys
:16:52. > :16:56.every year? Surely this is taking things in absolutely the wrong
:16:57. > :17:03.direction and will the Minister and take reverse these cuts? I hear the
:17:04. > :17:09.honourable lady's comments and our policy is to get more freight onto
:17:10. > :17:13.the railway that is one of the point of HS2, to free up the capacity on
:17:14. > :17:20.the existing network. The point about the modal shift grant I will
:17:21. > :17:26.relate to... The government has said that one the benefits of HS2 will be
:17:27. > :17:34.how well it links to other forms of transport, why then in looking at
:17:35. > :17:40.the alternatives for HS two. HS2 is there no reference to how it
:17:41. > :17:43.connects to HS three. Northern Powerhouse is being developed with
:17:44. > :17:53.the platform of HS2 being delivered. We are looking at using HS2 network
:17:54. > :17:58.were Northern Powerhouse rail. It is a life consultation running until
:17:59. > :18:08.March, and I would ask the honourable gentleman to participate
:18:09. > :18:15.in that. Thank you, HS2 anticipates that draft roofed management and
:18:16. > :18:20.safety plans covering the a 4010 will be available for discussion and
:18:21. > :18:26.consultation in March. Great news Mr Speaker I'm glad that people of
:18:27. > :18:30.Whickham, Aylesbury and Buchan will have the opportunity to scrutinise
:18:31. > :18:36.plans, will you take bets to enhance the safety of this route? My
:18:37. > :18:40.honourable friend makes a very important point, safety is critical
:18:41. > :18:45.as we go into the delivery phrase for HS2. As a result of the
:18:46. > :18:49.partitioning protest the Secretary of State is committed to make a
:18:50. > :18:57.contribution of ?480,000 for permanent safety measures along
:18:58. > :19:10.roads in the common share. Also... Details will be announced shortly.
:19:11. > :19:22.Mr Speaker, I am working closely, as you would expect, on this earth
:19:23. > :19:28.elution, we intend to consult on a new air quality plan later this
:19:29. > :19:32.spring. Given that 40,000 people die prematurely every year from our
:19:33. > :19:36.pollution and the fact that this government has lost two High Court
:19:37. > :19:38.cases for its lack of action, will the Minister now use his
:19:39. > :19:45.considerably large galvanised to push through clean air quality zones
:19:46. > :19:50.in cities like Norwich to protect people's help? Yes, I think the
:19:51. > :19:56.honourable gentleman is right, editing clean as zones play a vital
:19:57. > :20:03.role in that air. Sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe...
:20:04. > :20:07.Certainly, we all need, and deserve clean air, don't we? He will know
:20:08. > :20:13.that no it is one of the cities already implemented a force lower
:20:14. > :20:17.emission zone, he will also know that the campaign for better
:20:18. > :20:21.transport has welcomed the theme that will be addressed by the clean
:20:22. > :20:27.as own's local growth policy and plans. These are sound principles to
:20:28. > :20:33.underpin transport and planning. I think he is right that we need to do
:20:34. > :20:36.more and clean as zones, I am in weekly discussions with my
:20:37. > :20:46.colleagues about that. --- clean as zones. The key thing, I think it is
:20:47. > :20:49.really important that we have good consistent national standards, but
:20:50. > :20:53.that we respect the local particularities of different places
:20:54. > :20:59.and cities. So, the role of local government in this will be vital.
:21:00. > :21:06.They will reflect local circumstances, but they must all
:21:07. > :21:12.work to high nationalist lives. I'm sure greatly educated in consequent
:21:13. > :21:16.spot at a cost in time. One of the reasons for a harmful road omissions
:21:17. > :21:22.in my consistency is if the queues of traffic, when can we have a
:21:23. > :21:26.Shipley Eastern bypass which will be good for the local economy,
:21:27. > :21:34.alleviate congestion, and deal with these harmful emissions? The
:21:35. > :21:39.honourable gentleman's perspicacity means that he's managed to weave a
:21:40. > :21:43.local road question into these discussions. I think the only thing
:21:44. > :21:50.for me to do is to meet with him. I am sure that the Minister is aware
:21:51. > :22:00.of the new report, any journey is greener I Boss, ... Greener bosses
:22:01. > :22:04.have reduced harmful emissions and brought wider social and economic
:22:05. > :22:09.benefit, but given that both use in the UK as a whole has fallen by
:22:10. > :22:14.around 7% in the last six years and in the last year mallets Jabal on
:22:15. > :22:17.both commercial and local authorities are portable services,
:22:18. > :22:21.isn't his government failing to support one of the most effective
:22:22. > :22:25.way to tackle air pollution? It won't come as any surprise to know
:22:26. > :22:31.that I travel on the bus when I am in nothing him, and my
:22:32. > :22:35.mother-in-law's home to the city. I can speak with some authority about
:22:36. > :22:43.bus journeys in Notting Hill. She is right that. But is a key part of
:22:44. > :22:47.this and that is why we have made money available specifically the
:22:48. > :22:52.cleaner buses. She is right as well that we need to encourage that is
:22:53. > :22:57.part of lower emissions aims. Encouraging parents to leave their
:22:58. > :23:01.cars at home and get their children and local public transport can make
:23:02. > :23:12.a major impact to air quality, have you done any analysis into how much
:23:13. > :23:18.free bus travel would cost, is this another underfunded label promised?
:23:19. > :23:22.That is a bit wide of the substance of the question, therefore I think a
:23:23. > :23:30.single sentence of eloquence from the Minister of State would suffice
:23:31. > :23:35.on this moment. Buses are good, walking is good, cycling is good,
:23:36. > :23:39.that is how I get to school. The Minister promised new eyes, so will
:23:40. > :23:45.he news these new eyes to recognise that there are a lot of diesel users
:23:46. > :23:51.in the UK, and rather by joining in the demonisation of hysterical media
:23:52. > :23:57.about them, will he have a full enquiry into it will stop therefore,
:23:58. > :24:03.posted approach to what remedies may be necessary. I think from my
:24:04. > :24:08.immensely measured remarks earlier, the honourable gentleman will
:24:09. > :24:10.recognise that I am not prepared to demonise anyone, certainly not
:24:11. > :24:17.prepared to put at risk the well-being of people who need to
:24:18. > :24:21.travel to work and to school and other opportunities, public services
:24:22. > :24:28.and so on. Of course we need to be balanced in our approach to this. Mr
:24:29. > :24:35.Speaker, I fully recognise the effect on local communities from
:24:36. > :24:40.aircraft noise during the night, we are currently consulting on future
:24:41. > :24:43.at night time restrictions to Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted,
:24:44. > :24:45.including option that will reduce the amount of the airport are
:24:46. > :24:52.allowed to make while ensuring that the benefits of night flights to the
:24:53. > :24:55.economy are maintained. I hugely welcomed the work being done by the
:24:56. > :25:03.Secretary State on this but I urge him to agree with me that quiet
:25:04. > :25:14.periods off there a Suta example that were pure blighting the lives.
:25:15. > :25:18.I am well aware of the pressures on my honourable friend and
:25:19. > :25:23.neighbouring constituencies the weight route operate around Gatwick,
:25:24. > :25:28.part of our consultations about exactly how we use as space as well
:25:29. > :25:33.as how we limit the use of the night I was the aircrafts. I would
:25:34. > :25:36.encourage him to take part in that consultation, but I do believe the
:25:37. > :25:43.new technology can help as they can consider it a difference to this.
:25:44. > :25:47.Can the Minister outlined plans... Can he ensure that any reduction of
:25:48. > :25:54.flight will not adversely affect links or any... Mr Speaker this is
:25:55. > :25:58.clearly very important indeed and I would simply say today that I am
:25:59. > :26:03.very pleased that we were able to announce comic yesterday continuing
:26:04. > :26:11.support for the flight from Derry to Stansted. That was an important
:26:12. > :26:17.decision to take and we took it... I hope people in Northern Ireland were
:26:18. > :26:19.welcomed the decision. Would my right honourable friend, whilst
:26:20. > :26:23.acknowledging the growing importance of the package freight business,
:26:24. > :26:30.never the less try to do more to ensure that the company is prominent
:26:31. > :26:33.in this business replace what are often very ageing aircrafts with
:26:34. > :26:37.more modern equipment, because these ad the noise factors in areas. ---
:26:38. > :26:50.aggravate. I agree. I would like to see clear
:26:51. > :26:58.incentives for airports to make sure the day use quiet aircraft. Could I
:26:59. > :27:06.thank the Minister and his Department for the Londonderry-
:27:07. > :27:12.London grouped? -- route. And could I pass on our thanks for a meeting
:27:13. > :27:15.that I suggested she take place in the House, which helped resolve the
:27:16. > :27:18.matter and we would now look forward to the effective marketing of
:27:19. > :27:25.Abruzzo looking become a success beyond a two-year period that the
:27:26. > :27:31.DSO applied. I would be happy to pass on those thanks to Lord Ahmad.
:27:32. > :27:34.It is very much my hope the route will build up sufficiently and
:27:35. > :27:40.become permanently commercial and will not need public support. To
:27:41. > :27:47.most people, night flights include those that arrive in the early
:27:48. > :27:50.hours. This affect the constituents in Henley very much, particularly
:27:51. > :27:55.when landing in an easterly wind. To what extent will he take their views
:27:56. > :28:00.into consideration? I am very sensitive to the issue of not simply
:28:01. > :28:04.those people in the immediate approached the airport but there is
:28:05. > :28:10.further away like his constituents, this is why I believe that better
:28:11. > :28:13.use of airspace, using state-of-the-art technology rather
:28:14. > :28:19.than old methods, will enable us to provide more respite for individual
:28:20. > :28:29.communities affected by noise. Question seven. Mr Speaker, I will
:28:30. > :28:31.answer this together with questions nine and ten. The Government is
:28:32. > :28:35.considering potential impact on the border as part of preparations for
:28:36. > :28:39.negotiating our departure of the EU. It is to say what arrangements will
:28:40. > :28:42.be needed. But we are conscious of the interests of the transport
:28:43. > :28:45.industry in future arrangements. We remain committed to putting
:28:46. > :28:51.passengers at the heart of our transport policy. Does taking back
:28:52. > :28:54.control of borders mean 23 million inbound passengers from the EU
:28:55. > :28:58.passing through airports will be subject to full border checks? Is he
:28:59. > :29:01.web research from the tourism industry Council which shows as we
:29:02. > :29:06.would require UK Border Force sources to be increased by 200%? Can
:29:07. > :29:12.he assure us those costs will be met from the ?350 million he promised to
:29:13. > :29:15.the NHS each week? It is already the case that within the EU citizen
:29:16. > :29:22.arrives, they have to show their passport. I don't see that changing
:29:23. > :29:25.in the future. The reality is that since 2011, this Government has cut
:29:26. > :29:30.the budget for the UK Border Force by 15%, despite having to cope with
:29:31. > :29:32.an 11% increase in passenger numbers over the same period. This is having
:29:33. > :29:36.an impact on passengers already. an impact on passengers already.
:29:37. > :29:40.What discussions has he had with the Home Secretary to make sure that
:29:41. > :29:44.neither passengers nor border security are prejudiced or
:29:45. > :29:48.compromised after Brexit? Of course, he will know that one of the things
:29:49. > :29:52.we have done in recent years is to significantly increase automation at
:29:53. > :30:01.airports, dates at passports and this provides and effective way to
:30:02. > :30:16.improve border control and live within our means. -- e-gates. Does
:30:17. > :30:21.the Secretary of State believe service level agreements will need
:30:22. > :30:26.to be revised? As the Prime Minister said, I would reiterate our desire
:30:27. > :30:30.post Brexit is not to have long queues at our reporters but to have
:30:31. > :30:35.sensible arrangements to allow people to travel to do business and
:30:36. > :30:53.enable us to have controls on migration. Once the UK lease the EU,
:30:54. > :31:02.the Bill... Thereby speeding up entry to the UK? As my honourable
:31:03. > :31:06.friend knows, it will be a matter for this House post Brexit and this
:31:07. > :31:08.Government to decide how best to manage our borders but I am sure my
:31:09. > :31:12.honourable friend would wish to ensure that where appropriate, we
:31:13. > :31:16.have the smoothest possible passage through our borders for people we
:31:17. > :31:24.would wish welcome to our country. The Culture, Media and Sport select
:31:25. > :31:32.committee discussed timeliness that would be required for
:31:33. > :31:35.reconfiguration of airports. Does the Secretary of State -- has the
:31:36. > :31:38.Secretary of State had discussed this? I discussed this in earlier
:31:39. > :31:42.this week and will continue to consult carefully with the industry.
:31:43. > :31:46.People arriving from all around the world today have to show passports
:31:47. > :31:49.already when they arrive in the UK, so don't envisage the kind of
:31:50. > :31:58.dramatic change that perhaps some are suggesting. It is likely that
:31:59. > :32:03.queues will increase in a post Brexit UK, which will have an effect
:32:04. > :32:10.on the UK pan-European tourism market. What assurances can he
:32:11. > :32:14.provide that there will be as little disruption as possible and ensure
:32:15. > :32:21.our tourism market, vital for jobs in the economy, will not be
:32:22. > :32:25.adversely affected? I will simply say, the honourable lady is making
:32:26. > :32:28.assumption I do not accept, people already have to show passports
:32:29. > :32:31.before entering the country and I do not envisage a changing. I do not
:32:32. > :32:35.envisage a situation where we suddenly create vast additional
:32:36. > :32:38.queues at our borders. We want a smooth and streamlined process for
:32:39. > :32:47.people who have the right to come here to do so and to be welcomed
:32:48. > :32:50.here. Regarding ongoing discussions with UK ports and airports, what
:32:51. > :32:56.additional discussions have taken place with the Treasury to encourage
:32:57. > :33:05.inbound passengers by reducing VAT on tourism? The issue of taxation is
:33:06. > :33:08.one for the project. Many representations have been made
:33:09. > :33:12.across this House and across society to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
:33:13. > :33:16.about what he may or may not do in his budget but a few she will have
:33:17. > :33:23.to wait to see what he has in line for hours later in the year. EU
:33:24. > :33:26.nationals arriving in the UK are currently processed faster due to
:33:27. > :33:30.what is called a soft board approach, using special scanning.
:33:31. > :33:34.Will the Secretary of State confirm his Government intends to continue
:33:35. > :33:41.these measures after the UK has left the EU? We will decide detailed
:33:42. > :33:45.arrangements as the months go by but it is not our intention to create
:33:46. > :33:49.queues at borders, it will remain the case that people show passports
:33:50. > :33:53.when they arrive in the UK. For people all around the world, who
:33:54. > :34:01.come to the UK as tourists, visitors, to do business, there is a
:34:02. > :34:08.warm welcome. Currently, EU nationals can use e-gates for
:34:09. > :34:12.passports. Will these machines effectively become redundant and
:34:13. > :34:14.does this Government intend to offer them second-hand to European
:34:15. > :34:21.neighbours at bargain prices to recoup some of the cost? Actually, I
:34:22. > :34:24.expect around the world more use of technology in the future. More
:34:25. > :34:27.ability to move people through passport lanes in different
:34:28. > :34:33.countries all around the world using technology. That is a change expect
:34:34. > :34:42.to accelerate, not decelerate in future. The Government has no plans
:34:43. > :34:44.to roll out tolls on existing roads. Successive governments have taken
:34:45. > :34:54.the view that tolls occasionally justified. It is right that the user
:34:55. > :35:01.pays, rather than the taxpayer because the user benefits. My
:35:02. > :35:06.constituents in Liverpool will need a pay rise of ?1000 a year just to
:35:07. > :35:08.stand still when the Mersey crossing tolls are introduced. Can I ask the
:35:09. > :35:12.minister if you consider a scheme whereby those who can demonstrate
:35:13. > :35:16.they are in permanent employment on the other side of the water, when
:35:17. > :35:19.the toll is announced, will either have some kind of introduction or
:35:20. > :35:25.perhaps a discount to reflect additional costs? As I said, it is
:35:26. > :35:31.not unusual for governments to use not unusual for governments to use
:35:32. > :35:33.toast to finance large crossings. I would rather be straightforward
:35:34. > :35:39.about this because the honourable gentleman is a diligent and popular
:35:40. > :35:43.member and one of my friends. I cannot do what he wants and I would
:35:44. > :35:48.rather say that now. We have looked at this, we did consider whether we
:35:49. > :35:52.could widen the discount scheme and we could not make it work, in terms
:35:53. > :35:59.of cost effectiveness. So, I'd rather actually be absolutely frank
:36:00. > :36:05.and say, no. Last week marked nine years since the SNP scrapped the
:36:06. > :36:09.last of the transport tools in Scotland and since then, the average
:36:10. > :36:14.commuter travelling on the Forth Bridge and the Tay Bridge has said
:36:15. > :36:17.around ?2000 each. In the same time period, the average total pain
:36:18. > :36:22.commuter in England and Wales will have paid out just under ?4000. If
:36:23. > :36:26.the Government is serious about helping just about managing
:36:27. > :36:33.families, I will the Secretary not reassess his transport talk policy?
:36:34. > :36:39.Well, my goodness, Mr Speaker, what barefaced cheek from the SNP! They
:36:40. > :36:42.did indeed cancel the tolls and they closed the crossings as a result
:36:43. > :36:46.because they did not have enough money! They didn't have enough money
:36:47. > :37:03.to make them work. We will publish the strategy shortly
:37:04. > :37:12.but are not able yet to specify a precise date. They will we is a
:37:13. > :37:17.beautiful path in my constituency, populated by cyclists and walkers
:37:18. > :37:22.for the expansive views it gives over the DS Jeffrey. And of course
:37:23. > :37:26.the pressure it affords and internationally renowned bird life.
:37:27. > :37:31.The Government has committed money for its roads investment strategy.
:37:32. > :37:38.But less for cycling and walking. What more will the Government do to
:37:39. > :37:45.increase cycling and walking? We will publish our strategy shortly.
:37:46. > :37:47.We're spending 2% of our Department's total budget during the
:37:48. > :37:53.course of this Parliament on cycling. Just under ?1 billion out
:37:54. > :37:57.of a total budget of ?50 billion. We want to make cycling and walking the
:37:58. > :37:59.default choice for shorter journeys and I recognise all the points you
:38:00. > :38:07.made about the pleasant area she represents. An extraordinary answer
:38:08. > :38:10.from the minister because a transport question six weeks ago,
:38:11. > :38:14.the Secretary of State told us we would not have long to wait. It is
:38:15. > :38:22.honest a year since the consultation was launched. His Department seems
:38:23. > :38:26.to have a problem with lateness. Private parking was over a year
:38:27. > :38:28.late. Can the Secretary of State tell us, how many people in his
:38:29. > :38:36.Department are working on this project? Or is it just the
:38:37. > :38:39.Department for being late? That question did not quite capture the
:38:40. > :38:44.honourable gentleman's customary generosity at the dispatch box. It
:38:45. > :38:47.is clearly a complete load of nonsense because this Government is
:38:48. > :38:51.investing in transport, more than any other Government in British
:38:52. > :38:54.history. The reason we're slightly delayed on publishing this strategy
:38:55. > :39:00.is because we have had so many people responding to the
:39:01. > :39:04.consultation. This is a strategy very near its publication and I will
:39:05. > :39:12.let the honourable gentleman known exactly when we will publish it
:39:13. > :39:19.shortly. Question 13. Thank you. An issue worth waiting for. We are
:39:20. > :39:23.committed to the accessibility of the rail network, currently 70% of
:39:24. > :39:27.train fleets operate passenger services and meet modern
:39:28. > :39:34.accessibility standards. Remaining vehicles need to be upgraded by
:39:35. > :39:37.January 20 20. As the minister had a chance to read Muscular Dystrophy
:39:38. > :39:44.UK's trailblazers end of the line report? Young disabled people have
:39:45. > :39:48.identified accessibility to train stations and problems with the
:39:49. > :40:00.advanced booking system. Will the Government committee looking at both
:40:01. > :40:02.issues? Much of my time has been chairing parliamentary groups on
:40:03. > :40:10.these issues and challenging the industry. I am well aware of the
:40:11. > :40:13.report. It is worth pointing out, bookings are increasing by 7%
:40:14. > :40:17.year-on-year. The real challenge for the industry at the moment is to
:40:18. > :40:22.ensure those passengers who wish to just turn up and go getting the same
:40:23. > :40:25.level of service as those who are booking through passenger assistance
:40:26. > :40:29.and more than that, when passenger assistance does not work properly,
:40:30. > :40:35.but there is adequate recourse for an ombudsman system to get redress,
:40:36. > :40:38.which is not currently the case. Can the Minister confirm that the
:40:39. > :40:42.availability of supervisors on Southern Rail is increasing? Can we
:40:43. > :40:46.expect to see an improvement in services for disabled passengers?
:40:47. > :40:51.Said to me, I'm keeping a careful eye on what is happening on GTR, in
:40:52. > :40:57.terms of both official passenger assist bookings as well as the
:40:58. > :41:00.unofficial turn up and go service. The office is conducting mystery
:41:01. > :41:04.shopping exercises and I am keen to see the outcome of those but I want
:41:05. > :41:12.to make sure that all passengers who travel on GTR get the service they
:41:13. > :41:18.need from the on-board supervisors. Thank you. You will recall that six
:41:19. > :41:27.weeks ago, I asked a question about experiences of disabled passengers.
:41:28. > :41:34.I have subsequently been contacted by people who told me awful stories
:41:35. > :41:38.that would shame all of those. Therefore, I want to ask the
:41:39. > :41:41.Minister and raise the issue of the disability discrimination act, of
:41:42. > :41:46.which this has come you rightly proud. Does this act apply to train
:41:47. > :41:50.operating companies? I think we would all expect that the answer
:41:51. > :41:54.would be yes, and if that is so what is the government are doing to make
:41:55. > :41:58.sure that the train operating companies can allow passengers to
:41:59. > :42:02.travel? I have been told there in the past disabled passengers were
:42:03. > :42:08.built to turn up at the station and to travel in the guards' van like a
:42:09. > :42:12.parcel. However unacceptable that is, we are taking that away. Does
:42:13. > :42:14.the government expect that buying Courage in the guards' van like a
:42:15. > :42:17.parcel. However unacceptable that is, we are taking that away. Does
:42:18. > :42:19.the government expect that by including train operations to take
:42:20. > :42:21.gods of trains, they are contributing towards a breach of the
:42:22. > :42:27.discriminating act? I would be very concerned that any suggestion that
:42:28. > :42:33.it would be appropriate for disabled patch is to be travelling in the
:42:34. > :42:36.guards van. Most don't have a God and she travelled in. Like the
:42:37. > :42:41.honourable lady I received a number of worrying complaint as well. All
:42:42. > :42:53.train operating companies have to operate under licensing... That is
:42:54. > :42:56.why they are doing a list of exercises. Over and above that I
:42:57. > :42:59.want to make sure that where individual passengers have an
:43:00. > :43:07.inadequate level of service they as well can have a route to go down to
:43:08. > :43:12.see... Mr Speaker, I regularly meet with the Chancellor and plans for
:43:13. > :43:16.the Spring Budget have been included in those discussions, you may
:43:17. > :43:20.remember that my department was allocated over ?2 billion of
:43:21. > :43:23.additional funding is part of the National productivity investment
:43:24. > :43:27.bond at the Autumn Statement and my focus is to make the best possible
:43:28. > :43:31.use of this but travellers passengers around the company. The
:43:32. > :43:37.class in the bar you of the pound has led to steep... Will the
:43:38. > :43:42.Secretary of State impress upon the Chancellor the need to avoid any
:43:43. > :43:47.rise in fuel in the forthcoming budget? I am a proud that we as a
:43:48. > :43:50.government, having inherited a fuel duty escalator from the party
:43:51. > :43:55.opposite have actually been very good at keeping fuel duty down over
:43:56. > :44:03.the years. He will also be aware is the rise in the oil price is one of
:44:04. > :44:07.the pressures. The government has demonstrated how important is to be
:44:08. > :44:11.thoughtful about motorist when it comes to costs. As my honourable
:44:12. > :44:20.friend knows, one of the most beautiful parts of the country to
:44:21. > :44:26.visit, can I ask him to push the lacklustre Welsh Labour government
:44:27. > :44:31.to spend more money and provide improvements to make Wales said that
:44:32. > :44:38.more people can discover what my honourable friend already knows. Mr
:44:39. > :44:42.Speaker, as somebody who has holidayed in his constituency it is
:44:43. > :44:46.indeed a lovely area and we would encourage people from around the UK
:44:47. > :44:50.to visit. To that effect, he would of course be aware how important we
:44:51. > :44:53.were got transport links to areas like his on the English side of the
:44:54. > :44:57.border, we would always seek to make sure the right connectivity is in
:44:58. > :45:00.place to support tourism, it is a shame that the Welsh Labour
:45:01. > :45:12.government has proved so ineffective. Number 16, Mr Speaker.
:45:13. > :45:19.Thank you very much, Mr Speaker as at comprehensive review of taxi and
:45:20. > :45:24.private high... We are currently considering all the recommendations
:45:25. > :45:30.in that report and will be formally responding to the Lord commission
:45:31. > :45:35.and announce our intentions. That is useful, but I concerned the concerns
:45:36. > :45:39.of Stockton Borough Council, like taxi drivers, like the one who had
:45:40. > :45:46.his licence revoked for inappropriate conduct of young
:45:47. > :45:56.female... There are other examples of sex offenders doing likewise,
:45:57. > :46:01.when will this loophole be close? Loopholes are being closed and we
:46:02. > :46:04.will work further on this subject. But I would suggest, that we have a
:46:05. > :46:11.further conversation about this outside this chamber. Mr Speaker,
:46:12. > :46:15.the theme continues because last month to taxi drivers in Southend
:46:16. > :46:18.who would been stripped by their licences were found to be once again
:46:19. > :46:22.working in the town, because it has gone to another authority to get a
:46:23. > :46:33.licence. The local Conservative councillor Rob responsible was
:46:34. > :46:39.closed was saying... When they going to actually take some action? We are
:46:40. > :46:43.actually strengthening the law in this area, and that is why there was
:46:44. > :46:47.a government amendment to the policing and crime Bill made to
:46:48. > :46:51.allow the issuing of statutory guidance to authorities. This is
:46:52. > :47:01.obviously a work in process. It is a critical view taken by the Home
:47:02. > :47:07.Office. Number, 18 cert. Mr Speaker my honourable friend is well aware
:47:08. > :47:14.in the investment we made in the which affects his constituency and
:47:15. > :47:17.mine to some degree. I know he's been an effective campaign but this
:47:18. > :47:25.road and I look forward to working with him to complete the
:47:26. > :47:29.improvements to it. Given that nearly 30 years ago, in 1988, the
:47:30. > :47:41.then Transport Secretary promised to do with the entire length of the...
:47:42. > :47:46.I know there are a series of schemes as he describes along the road,
:47:47. > :47:51.particularly areas where the road could be duelled, he will also know
:47:52. > :47:56.that highways England will look at the investment. I should meet the
:47:57. > :48:02.honourable gentleman on the road, with highways England and my
:48:03. > :48:08.officials to look at this, because I owe him and this House that at
:48:09. > :48:16.least. Well I'm sure the image will be graphically captured for
:48:17. > :48:20.posterity. Topical questions. Topic, number one Mr Speaker. You will be
:48:21. > :48:24.aware that we are a government that takes big decisions and is ambitious
:48:25. > :48:28.to the future of our country, this is an important week for my
:48:29. > :48:31.department in terms of legislation, we will see the bus services Bill
:48:32. > :48:34.back in this House to bring improvements to bus services across
:48:35. > :48:38.the country. You will be aware this week that we introduced the vehicle
:48:39. > :48:43.technology aviation Bill which ensures that we will be at the head
:48:44. > :48:48.of the game when it comes to the new generation of vehicle technology, we
:48:49. > :48:52.have published into the space built which will take is forward in new
:48:53. > :48:57.technology. And this is the week that we see the completion of the
:48:58. > :49:02.process of the HS2 Bill. An important time in the Department.
:49:03. > :49:06.Could highways England scheme to the improvement is of a key vote in my
:49:07. > :49:10.constituency involves spending a lot of money on a round about will react
:49:11. > :49:15.the new digital carriageway between York and Malton. With the Minister
:49:16. > :49:19.agree to meet with me and the a 64 growth partnership to discuss what
:49:20. > :49:24.we can do to get the best scheme for local residents and the best by you
:49:25. > :49:28.for the taxpayer? Mr Speaker, we are well aware of the importance of this
:49:29. > :49:32.road to his constituency and to the economy of Yorkshire. I will be
:49:33. > :49:37.happy to meet my honourable friend as will the roads minister alongside
:49:38. > :49:40.me. We will ensure that progress into working this road continues as
:49:41. > :49:48.we move to the start of the next investment period. The report of the
:49:49. > :49:53.office of rail and road into highways England, revealed the road
:49:54. > :49:58.investment strategy to being chaos. The agency is ?1 billion over
:49:59. > :50:02.budget, 31 projects have more than doubled in cost and there is little
:50:03. > :50:07.evidence that 60 major schemes can be delivered on time. This strategy
:50:08. > :50:12.is beginning to look more like a fantasy wish list then a deliverable
:50:13. > :50:15.plan. Will the Minister take this opportunity to try and reassure this
:50:16. > :50:19.House that the road investment strategy is not the comedy of errors
:50:20. > :50:25.that it looks like an act he will guarantee to deliver it on time and
:50:26. > :50:29.on budget? Let's be clear about the road investment programme which is
:50:30. > :50:32.the ?30 billion programme which is delivering improvements around the
:50:33. > :50:36.country and is on track. It is not the disaster he says and I would
:50:37. > :50:39.simply remind him, honourable members on this side of the House
:50:40. > :50:45.will remember how ineffective 13 years of Labour government where, so
:50:46. > :50:51.we will not be taking any lessons on them. Well, it is about time this
:50:52. > :50:55.government took responsibility, Labour has been warning consistent
:50:56. > :50:58.sleep that this government has been overpromising and under delivering
:50:59. > :51:01.an investment in England's road network. We were promised the
:51:02. > :51:06.biggest upgrade in a generation, but there is now warning that there is
:51:07. > :51:09.the deterioration of England's roads. The number of people killed
:51:10. > :51:15.and seriously injured on our roses already rising, so can the Minister
:51:16. > :51:20.explained how he can guarantee road users safety and mitigate the
:51:21. > :51:23.increased safety risks caused by his government's failures to manage your
:51:24. > :51:28.investment in the road. Mr Speaker, the party opposite the Galacticos
:51:29. > :51:34.wrote that their teen years, he needs to travel around the country
:51:35. > :51:43.today and see the scheme that we are doing. Smart motorways, starting the
:51:44. > :51:46.progress finally on the 8383, and developing the tunnel, there, as
:51:47. > :51:49.well as smaller schemes around the country. Last week I was in
:51:50. > :51:52.strategist seeing an important improvement to be a 50, and none of
:51:53. > :51:58.that happened when they were in power, so it is frankly barefaced
:51:59. > :52:07.cheek to hear them say what they are doing now. Also, in the Autumn
:52:08. > :52:12.Statement we... I was hoping to ask some questions about space like, but
:52:13. > :52:16.when some conspicuous on the stars some of us are stuck in the
:52:17. > :52:20.government outside East Croydon waiting the Southern Rail two
:52:21. > :52:25.letters in. I was wondering if he could tell us, how some of us can
:52:26. > :52:32.get into London Bridge on time, not just how Tim Pekin getting space?
:52:33. > :52:36.The problems on the Southern Rail network and not simply about the
:52:37. > :52:41.trains but also about the track and infrastructure, that is why we're
:52:42. > :52:44.spending ?300 million on things like Queen 's replacement, track
:52:45. > :52:49.replacement, replacing the small things on the infrastructure that do
:52:50. > :52:54.go wrong. --- points replacement. That is something we are moving
:52:55. > :52:58.ahead with quickly and something that means he will spend less time
:52:59. > :53:03.on the train outside East Croydon and more times in this House asking
:53:04. > :53:07.about space. The Minister today has told us that he is pursuing the
:53:08. > :53:11.interest of consumers, but can he explain why we still have no
:53:12. > :53:18.timescale for UK drivers of Volkswagen cars to have them fixed.
:53:19. > :53:22.I will he Pelissie win the United Kingdom government will be taking
:53:23. > :53:28.responsibility as it faces legal action from the EU commission for
:53:29. > :53:33.its poor response to the scandal? Let me be a little above the more
:53:34. > :53:38.generous to the SNP, she is right and it is a matter for the whole
:53:39. > :53:42.house to work together on. Because Volkswagen's behaviour has been
:53:43. > :53:48.unacceptable. It is vitally important that we move ahead with
:53:49. > :53:53.rigour, and with care. To make sure that consumers are properly dealt
:53:54. > :54:05.with, by Volkswagen as a result of this unacceptable behaviour. Most of
:54:06. > :54:08.East Anglia has 82 tracked railway at best, does my right honourable
:54:09. > :54:13.friend except that it is very difficult to reconcile the ambitions
:54:14. > :54:17.of the mayor to have increased frequency services do in a London
:54:18. > :54:22.stations whilst there is a growing need for faster services to Norwich,
:54:23. > :54:28.Cambridge, Stansted Airport, without providing extra track capacity at
:54:29. > :54:35.key points? He is certainly right to observe that at any part in the
:54:36. > :54:41.network we have to make choices over the stations that are served stop
:54:42. > :54:45.that choice will involve Alta stations, verses in London stations,
:54:46. > :54:51.I can ensure him that this is more than a worry... I'm sure that my
:54:52. > :54:54.officials will benefit from his wisdom on this part of the network
:54:55. > :55:00.and look forward to his meeting with them. Today marks another step
:55:01. > :55:07.towards the national folly that is HS2. Can I begged this tech tree of
:55:08. > :55:13.the, even at this late stage, here is a project that is out of control
:55:14. > :55:18.in terms of expenditure, with the chief executive resigning, could he
:55:19. > :55:23.change his mind? Invest this money in fast Network Rail in the north of
:55:24. > :55:32.Inman and the NHS. Mr Speaker, it is not an either or. We're spending
:55:33. > :55:36.money on improved services in the Manchester area and enabling more
:55:37. > :55:40.services across the Pennines. And on the Northern Rail network we have
:55:41. > :55:44.the most ambitious improvement plan seen in modern times. I am proud
:55:45. > :55:48.what we're doing transport wise in the North of England. I would say
:55:49. > :55:51.that if we are going to meet the capacity challenges of the future we
:55:52. > :55:57.need to build a new railway line. And why wouldn't you build something
:55:58. > :56:02.state-of-the-art? And that is the view of most people in this House.
:56:03. > :56:06.The Minister of State Will Bacall that are meeting in December with
:56:07. > :56:15.representatives from fuels, where jobs are under threat, can the
:56:16. > :56:22.Minister invited us as to when he's going to make a decision and lift
:56:23. > :56:25.the threat of redundancy? We are looking at these matters closely
:56:26. > :56:30.following the consultation, he will know that I had a meeting with all
:56:31. > :56:37.of those interests Terry interested and concerned in this matter,
:56:38. > :56:42.recently. We will consider all these make a decision as soon as possible
:56:43. > :56:45.eat. In light of this morning's release from government, what
:56:46. > :56:58.guarantee does the Minister have any savings result from innocent... Will
:56:59. > :57:02.be passed on drivers. We are working hard to ensure that the benefits of
:57:03. > :57:08.technology and of improvement in road safety are passed through motor
:57:09. > :57:10.insurance premiums to drivers, particularly working with younger
:57:11. > :57:13.drivers and there is a research programme on this and I will write
:57:14. > :57:20.to the honourable gentleman with the details of the work we undertaking.
:57:21. > :57:25.I'm sure the whole house will be disappointed that my honourable
:57:26. > :57:33.friend wasn't able to ask about space flight, so can my honourable
:57:34. > :57:40.friend set out what steps he is taking to ensure the UK becomes the
:57:41. > :57:44.world leader in commercial space flight? Mr Speaker, the final
:57:45. > :57:51.frontier. Who better to take us there than Britain? We will lead the
:57:52. > :58:00.way in commercial space flights as we set out this week. Mr Speaker, I
:58:01. > :58:05.see you as Captain Kirk and me as Mr Spock and other parts will be played
:58:06. > :58:09.by members of the party. I think it's safe to say that The Right
:58:10. > :58:13.Honourable gentleman will always shine brightly on the outer reaches
:58:14. > :58:23.of the galaxy! LAUGHTER
:58:24. > :58:26.Mr Speaker. Like today at past transport questions, Minister Hayes
:58:27. > :58:32.was very bullish about Volkswagen executives face incremental charges
:58:33. > :58:39.for the diesel emissions scandal in the UK. How's that going? Well, it's
:58:40. > :58:43.very important we work with the Germans on this. Because the tests
:58:44. > :58:48.were done in Germany and they have much of the evidence that we need to
:58:49. > :58:54.proceed with all that we are doing to force Volkswagen to do the right
:58:55. > :58:59.thing. It's also important that we work with and support the private
:59:00. > :59:03.prosecutors. I'm doing both and I will bring the results of that work
:59:04. > :59:08.back to the house in due course. But you can be sure that I'm absolutely
:59:09. > :59:13.determined to defend the interests of people against this soulless
:59:14. > :59:21.corporate behaviour. A reference group has long campaigned for
:59:22. > :59:26.investment in particularly my town of Hampshire, desperately in need of
:59:27. > :59:32.modern roads. Can the Minister meet with me to secure extra funding? I
:59:33. > :59:35.can hardly wait, Mr Speaker. Of the committee, supper, whatever the
:59:36. > :59:42.honourable lady wishes, I will happily meet her and her friends to
:59:43. > :59:47.consider these matters. Seeing the first train undergoing trials on the
:59:48. > :59:52.existing Crossrail network was a proud moment for workers and indeed
:59:53. > :59:59.the whole East Midlands rail supply chain. Given Bombardier's success
:00:00. > :00:03.with the East Anglia franchise, does he share my hope that we will see
:00:04. > :00:09.this train being deployed more widely across Britain? I have a
:00:10. > :00:11.slightly different ambition, I have an ambition to see that train
:00:12. > :00:20.deployed in other countries as well. I've already told the Japanese
:00:21. > :00:24.transport Minister I think our trains are better and I think you
:00:25. > :00:29.should buy some for those networks. Mr Speaker, back on planet Earth,
:00:30. > :00:35.the reason Aslef ballot was clearly very disappointing and clearly a
:00:36. > :00:38.bone of contention... Will the Secretary of State consider making a
:00:39. > :00:42.performance indicator measure when in exceptional circumstances a train
:00:43. > :00:50.leaves without that second person on it? Mr Speaker, I will happily look
:00:51. > :00:54.carefully at that option. It's not my policy or the Government's policy
:00:55. > :00:58.to remove people from trains. Ways of working are going to change in
:00:59. > :01:01.the future but my view is that we're going to need more people rather
:01:02. > :01:08.than fewer delivering a service to customers on our railway as demand
:01:09. > :01:13.grows. Mr Speaker, 54% of all train delays in Scotland are due to the
:01:14. > :01:16.Tory Government responsibility for Network Rail. Surely he must agree
:01:17. > :01:21.with my colleagues here and in the Scottish Government that critical
:01:22. > :01:24.functions such as capacity planning, legal and property Management
:01:25. > :01:29.related to Scotland, should and be devolved to the Scottish Parliament?
:01:30. > :01:32.Isn't the only reason why the Government is sitting on its hands
:01:33. > :01:37.purely political and not because it is in the best interests of the
:01:38. > :01:41.people of Scotland? The thing is, Mr Speaker, I've made the SMP -- seen
:01:42. > :01:45.the SMB make such a hash of education in Scotland I don't trust
:01:46. > :01:48.them with the transport system. I think we benefit from having a
:01:49. > :01:53.national rail operator as part of the UK. Mr Speaker, is the Secretary
:01:54. > :01:56.of State in a position to confirm that Bradford will be one of the
:01:57. > :02:01.stations on the northern powerhouse rail? I imagine there is a very
:02:02. > :02:07.strong case for that but we're waiting to see what the North have
:02:08. > :02:11.do say an powerhouse rail but I myself would be very surprised if
:02:12. > :02:14.Bradford did not feature on those plans. Can I support my honourable
:02:15. > :02:20.friend were Cleethorpes in raising the issue of fuels and the 2% crop
:02:21. > :02:25.cap and the danger that that might have on a very important local
:02:26. > :02:28.business? Will the Minister meet with MPs cross party in the region
:02:29. > :02:34.to look at this issue before determining what to do? Can I just
:02:35. > :02:36.say I know how closely the honourable gentleman has worked with
:02:37. > :02:43.colleagues across the house to prevent the interests of his
:02:44. > :02:46.constituents -- protect the interests of his constituents and
:02:47. > :02:54.others. Delighted to meet, of course. Would my right honourable
:02:55. > :02:59.friend give the house an update on the proposals were Crossrail two and
:03:00. > :03:03.if there is going to be any delay on what can be done to relieve
:03:04. > :03:07.overcrowding on our trains like the one I was on this morning in the
:03:08. > :03:13.meantime? I'm waiting for transport for London to deliver the business
:03:14. > :03:16.case for Crossrail two, I am mixed betting that in the next few weeks.
:03:17. > :03:22.But in the meantime we are taking action on capacity, most immediately
:03:23. > :03:26.I will be at Waterloo station this afternoon to see one of the new
:03:27. > :03:29.generation of trains on the routes that serve both our constituencies
:03:30. > :03:34.over the coming months. With the works taking place at Waterloo over
:03:35. > :03:37.the summer, it will be possible to have ten coach trains rather than
:03:38. > :03:42.aid coach trains serving our networks and that is good for our
:03:43. > :03:47.passengers. The demand for transport is currently consulting on the
:03:48. > :03:50.airport's national policy statement. Why are residents in Chiswick,
:03:51. > :03:54.Brentford and still are being told in that consultation that the
:03:55. > :03:59.approach path to run rate three will be over their heads? And will hit
:04:00. > :04:07.meet residents to explain the noise impact that runway three will cause
:04:08. > :04:10.to my constituents? One thing to understand about airspace management
:04:11. > :04:14.is that more precise technology will enable us to provide a much more
:04:15. > :04:18.varied management on airspace in a way that minimises the impact on
:04:19. > :04:24.communities, with much more precise flight paths. I think we've been
:04:25. > :04:28.pretty clear in consulting all the areas that will be affected by the
:04:29. > :04:32.airport expansion and we are expressing a desire from across this
:04:33. > :04:40.house and across the areas affected for views and opinions to pass the
:04:41. > :04:50.consultation. Order. Points of order ordinarily come later but if it is
:04:51. > :04:56.read and not disputacious... We will hear it briefly. Thank you Mr
:04:57. > :04:58.Speaker. In response to my earlier question the Minister was suggesting
:04:59. > :05:06.that ending toll charges in Scotland would link to bridge being closed.
:05:07. > :05:11.The bridge was repaired ahead of schedule. The Queensferry Crossing
:05:12. > :05:18.has been completed on time and thing they began the under budget without
:05:19. > :05:24.the need for tolls. Maybe the Minister for Hayes... I very much
:05:25. > :05:32.doubt the Minister wishes to do so. The honourable lady, who is
:05:33. > :05:36.well-informed and I imagine has a big vocabulary, has just feigned
:05:37. > :05:40.ignorance of the word disputacious! I said the point of order should not
:05:41. > :05:44.be disputacious but it was disputacious. So we should leave it
:05:45. > :05:48.there. I'm not knowledgeable on those matters and more importantly I
:05:49. > :05:52.have absolutely no responsibility for them myself, which is a great
:05:53. > :05:57.source of relief for myself. If there are no points of order, before
:05:58. > :06:02.we come to the urgent question, I have to notify the house in
:06:03. > :06:06.accordance with the Royal assent act 1967 that Her Majesty has signified
:06:07. > :06:12.her Royal assent to the following acts. Commonwealth development
:06:13. > :06:18.Corporation act 2017, cultural property armed conflicts act 2017,
:06:19. > :06:26.high-speed rail London to West Midlands act 2017. Points of order
:06:27. > :06:33.Mr Speaker. Point of order, the Secretary of State. If you might
:06:34. > :06:36.indulge me on that point, if I could thank everyone in the house who has
:06:37. > :06:41.been involved in this passage, it has been a long and arduous process,
:06:42. > :06:46.particularly those who served on the committee for both houses, and I
:06:47. > :06:48.would like to express my thanks to them for what they have