Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Andrew Stephenson and Lord McLoughlin(7 years, 10 months ago)
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Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)
12. What steps his Department is taking to implement the road investment strategy.
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick McLoughlin)
The Government have launched the first ever road investment strategy, committing a record £15 billion up to 2020. Work is already under way on 20 of the schemes named in the road investment strategy, with five schemes already open to traffic in 2015-16. I can confirm that work on the A14—one of the biggest projects in our RIS, at £1.5 billion—is on track to start construction later this year.
Andrew Stephenson
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the momentous events of last week, and the opportunities they provide, mean that our transport infrastructure and schemes such as the road investment strategy are now more important than ever?
Mr McLoughlin
It is very important that we press on with both road and rail infrastructure projects. They are often controversial when we start them, but by the time they are completed people have usually asked why we did not start them some time ago.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Andrew Stephenson and Lord McLoughlin(8 years, 6 months ago)
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Mr McLoughlin
Much as it causes me pain, I will agree with the hon. Gentleman. He is absolutely right to say that we need to ensure that the companies in the Sheffield and Derbyshire areas, as well as other companies, are in a position to take advantage of HS2.
Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)
Pendle residents are concerned about the state of local roads across our area. Given that the Government have made £6 billion available for pothole repairs, how can we encourage local authorities to deliver the repairs that we all want to see?