Debates between Diana Johnson and Claire Perry during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Diana Johnson and Claire Perry
Thursday 28th April 2016

(8 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
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15. What recent progress has been made on rail electrification schemes in the north of England.

Claire Perry Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Claire Perry)
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We have electrified five times as many miles of track in the last six years as the previous Labour Government did in 13 years, and almost all that work has been in the north of England. I call that good progress.

Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson
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Can the Minister explain why the privately financed £100 million Hull to Selby rail electrification scheme has been stuck in the Department for Transport for nearly two years, while her Department is announcing schemes such as the one involving £27 billion for Crossrail 2 between Hertfordshire and Surbiton? If she is really serious about the northern powerhouse, why can she not get a wriggle on and get this privately financed scheme to happen?

Claire Perry Portrait Claire Perry
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I think that that is Humberside for a wiggle, Mr Speaker. Rail North and I completely share the hon. Lady’s enthusiasm for faster and better rail journeys for her constituents, which is why the new franchise that we let last year will give her constituents brand-new trains—bye-bye, Pacers!—more services and more direct connections. Hull is getting £1.4 million for its station in time for the city to take pride of place as the UK city of culture 2017. She should be pleased with that record.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Diana Johnson and Claire Perry
Thursday 28th January 2016

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Diana Johnson Portrait Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)
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We are approaching the second anniversary of the private finance initiative to electrify the line from Hull to Selby. Can the Minister update us on that no-brainer, which will benefit both the travelling public and the Government because it is privately financed?

Claire Perry Portrait Claire Perry
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As the hon. Lady knows, this is a ground-breaking way of ensuring that infrastructure is delivered, and of course we want to deliver that particular infrastructure, given Hull’s importance in the next 12 to 18 months. I shall be happy to obtain an update on the exact timing and write to her.