Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Jim Shannon(10 years, 8 months ago)
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Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
Will the Secretary of State make bus driver disability awareness training compulsory in his Department’s review of the EU bus and coach regulation this month?
Mr McLoughlin
That has been mentioned to me, and I will certainly want to look into it. I will write to the hon. Gentleman in more detail.
Transport Infrastructure
Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Jim Shannon(10 years, 11 months ago)
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Mr McLoughlin
I believe that what the commission has said is important, but we must await its final proposals and establish whether we can work to that deadline.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
Let me first thank the Secretary of State for his statement. He described the United Kingdom as an international aviation hub. What discussions has he had with representatives of Belfast City, Belfast International and City of Derry airports in Northern Ireland to ensure that the viable transport links to which he referred can be solidified and all regions can benefit from them?
Mr McLoughlin
Having responded to questions from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, I am well aware of the importance to Northern Ireland of its connections with London. I have had no direct conversations with the Northern Ireland Assembly, but I have of course listened to what colleagues in the House of Commons have had to say.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Jim Shannon(11 years ago)
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Mr McLoughlin
The development of HS2 does not mean that the people of Bristol and the south-west will be left out. HS2 is part of a bigger boost to our transport system and will make up less than a quarter of the transport investment in the next Parliament. I am always interested in talking to my hon. Friends about the schemes that they are promoting in their constituencies and I am more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss her scheme in greater detail.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
Does the Minister agree that as we approach the Christmas period, more use should be made of the media, and television in particular, to underline the zero-tolerance message on drink-driving? Will he consider running such a campaign in conjunction with all the regions of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Jim Shannon(11 years, 8 months ago)
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Mr McLoughlin
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for the acknowledgement that the third track will make a difference to the areas he mentioned. Obviously, we are always willing to discuss with airport operators how best to improve infrastructure connections, and I will be more than happy to do that once the new ownership arrangements are finally in place.