Contributions
939 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRail Infrastructure: East of EnglandMr Speaker, may I start by thanking you very much for bringing us all together at the carol concert yesterday, as you always do? I trust that this next hour will also be in…14 Dec 2023HANSARDRail ServicesWith the Prime Minister’s Network North commitment, £36 billion-worth of transport projects will be going ahead in other parts. I am happy to look at the project to which the hon.…14 Dec 2023HANSARDRail ServicesThe Government are committed to reforming the railways and ensuring that they are customer focused and commercially led, with the creation of Great British Railways to bring…14 Dec 2023HANSARDHigh Speed 2I just stated exactly what it is, if the hon. Lady had listened to my answer. We have published exactly how much has been spent: on phase 2a it was £273 million, and on phase 2b…14 Dec 2023HANSARDRail Infrastructure: East of EnglandMy right hon. Friend has been an absolute champion for that project, as have other hon. Friends present. We are keen to make progress. The Secretary of State and I were very keen…14 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI commend that work as well. In fact, the Great British Railways transition team has done a station accessibility study auditing every one of our 2,500 stations. That report is…14 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat was another commitment that the Prime Minister made in the Network North announcement. My hon. Friend has campaigned for Ferryhill Station for so long, and I thank him for…14 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend follows my right hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh) and my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers) in raising that matter at…14 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Prime Minister’s Network North announcement gave that commitment on the Ivanhoe line down to Leicester. We are fully committed to that. I know that I am due to be meeting the…14 Dec 2023HANSARDHigh Speed 2In the words of Take That, I ask my hon. Friend for a little patience. It will take time to develop a programme to ensure that we deliver value for money for the taxpayer and do…14 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsWhen this proposal was first mooted, it was to be a 50:50 split with Heathrow airport and the new runway, but matters changed after the pandemic. We are determined to see private…14 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for joining me and others in the industry to discuss open-access rail on 27 October. I have today written to the Office of Rail and Road and the chief…14 Dec 2023HANSARDHigh Speed 2Again, that is not the case at all. HS2 trains will be built to run across the network that they will travel on. I made the point previously that on the parts of the west coast…14 Dec 2023HANSARDRail ServicesBeing straight, transparent and open, I will write to the hon. Member and give him that detail, rather than attempt to make it up at Christmas time.14 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs part of the engagement exercise, which the Prime Minister promised, I have met leaders from across the north. Last week, it was a pleasure to meet those from the region around…14 Dec 2023HANSARDRail ServicesNo, I do not agree. In fact, when that matter came up at the Public Accounts Committee, the official who works on HS2 was able to explain that, where trains tilt, they can do so…14 Dec 2023HANSARDFurness Line ElectrificationAs my hon. Friend knows, my officials are active members of Team Barrow, alongside the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and local partners, recognising the…14 Dec 2023HANSARDFurness Line ElectrificationNorthern is developing a final business case for a new fleet that will bring new trains to my hon. Friend’s route, and include options for greener technology such as batteries. We…14 Dec 2023HANSARDHigh Speed 2I am glad the hon. Gentleman mentioned that report, because it is completely wrong. For a start, it states that £205 million has been spent on land and property, which is wrong—it…14 Dec 2023HANSARDHigh Speed 2Despite what I said about this being the season of good will, quite frankly that is complete and utter nonsense. As I have stated, there will be a very careful analysis of the…14 Dec 2023