Road Investment Strategy

Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Robin Walker

Monday 1st December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

I do not encourage anybody to dance on the roads. On the point about dualling the area mentioned by my hon. Friend, that is certainly on the table. It is for local people to show their enthusiasm for such a scheme, so that we can move it forward.

[Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con)]

May I thank the Secretary of State for and congratulate him on the very welcome and desperately needed investment in capacity at junction 6 of the M5, which will unlock growth in local businesses in Worcester? However, after a decade of lost investment in local roads, we desperately need more investment in the southern link, particularly at the Carrington bridge on the A440.

[Mr McLoughlin]

I take my hon. Friend’s first point about the M5. I will need a bit more notice of his other point, but no doubt he will write to me.

High-speed Rail

Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Robin Walker

Monday 24th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

I very much believe and hope that HS2 will be beneficial to Coventry. The entire west midlands benefits from HS2 and Coventry is certainly part of that wider west midlands conurbation. I want to see greater interconnection between the cities, and we have the time to plan and get that right. In this control period and the next one for Network Rail, we will be able to build on certain proposals that I know Coventry wants. Representatives of Coventry have been to see me and made recommendations about certain line improvements that they want to see.

[Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con)]

KPMG predicts benefits of more than £200 million for Worcestershire’s economy from HS2, so I broadly welcome the statement, but can the Secretary of State reassure my constituents that nothing in it precludes investment in faster trains between London and Worcester to address the absurdity that a journey of 130 miles, which took under two hours in 1910, takes more than two and a half hours today?

[Mr McLoughlin]

My hon. Friend is right. One of the problems that HS2 addresses in a way that no other proposals put before us will address is capacity. I very much hope that it will free up other journeys so that we can have faster journey times from cities such as Worcester.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Robin Walker

Thursday 28th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

Let me address the issue of Stansted airport. I am pleased that the Stansted sale has taken place, as it brings competition into the airport system, and I know that my right hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Sir Alan Haselhurst) has supported and advocated that for some time. As for the hon. Gentleman’s point about wider airports, obviously every case has to be looked at individually by the proper authorities.

[Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con)]

9. What progress his Department has made on funding new railway stations.