Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Jones Excerpts

Thursday 2nd July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Chris Heaton-Harris]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, but I think he is mixing up the reaction to the obvious pressures we have had because of the pandemic with our plans for the future. Some of the plans that he outlined are delayed, yes, but that is because people were not able to work safely during the pandemic. The train line that he mentioned is no longer serving Bletchley because nobody was using it. These services will all return and they will be reliable and cleaner than ever before.

[Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to fast-track construction on transport projects while fewer passengers are using the transport system during the covid-19 outbreak.

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Andrew Stephenson)]

In May, we announced £190 million-worth of investment in our road and rail networks to take advantage of lower demand.

[Andrew Jones]

My hon. Friend is aware of platform capacity issues at Leeds station; will he provide an update on the construction of platform 0, which will service rail connections from Harrogate and Knaresborough?

[Andrew Stephenson]

I pay tribute to the work that my hon. Friend did when he was a Department for Transport Minister. Work is now under way on platform 0 at Leeds and is expected to be completed by early next year. It will enable Northern to operate services more reliably.