Transport: Buses

Debate between Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Earl of Listowel

Thursday 24th October 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

I am pleased to be able to agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Randerson. It is critical that we have a national bus strategy. The Government have already announced that we will put in place such a strategy. Going alongside that will be our commitment to long-term funding for the bus sector.

[The Earl of Listowel (CB)]

My Lords, I welcome the news of this bus strategy, but will the Minister look at vulnerable groups, in particular parents who are in temporary accommodation such as hostels and bed and breakfast accommodation? Very often, they can be extremely isolated and may have to make many bus journeys to see their family and friends. Will the Government please look at that in their bus strategy?

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

I thank the noble Earl for raising this issue. As the Minister for loneliness in the Department for Transport, I know how important it is that we make sure that our transport system is able to get those people to where they need to go. We are currently scoping the bus strategy. I shall certainly include that within its remit.

Air Pollution

Debate between Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Earl of Listowel

Monday 8th April 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

I will certainly have a look at the noble Baroness’s clean air Bill and have a think about it.

[The Earl of Listowel (CB)]

My Lords, is the noble Baroness, Lady Vere, not quite right to single out children? The risks to children from not addressing this are particularly severe. Is that not why it is so welcome that the Mayor of London has introduced these steps and the Government are taking steps? There is an especially severe risk to children’s long-term health from exposure to pollution.

[Baroness Vere of Norbiton]

The noble Earl is quite right to mention children. Many vulnerable people are also significantly impacted by poor air quality. The Government are developing personal air quality messaging systems for them so that, when air quality is poor, they know that they need to take action. The Government are also providing funding to local councils to trial low-cost sensors, which can be placed around schools, so that they can monitor the air quality around schools much more effectively.