Stockton to Darlington Railway Anniversary Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Stockton to Darlington Railway Anniversary

Baroness Randerson Excerpts
Tuesday 11th October 2022

(2 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Vere of Norbiton Portrait Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
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I will allow that it may involve some financial support.

Baroness Randerson Portrait Baroness Randerson (LD)
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My Lords, I hope I can persuade the Minister to go further than that gentle reply. It appears that the Government funded the Unboxed festival—something visited by only around 250,000 people and designated a “festival of Brexit” by Jacob Rees-Mogg—to the tune of £126 million. I think that the festival we are talking about today will be a lot more popular and resonate a great deal more with the public. So can the Minister give us a clearer indication of the size of the Government’s intended financial support?

Baroness Vere of Norbiton Portrait Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
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Unfortunately, I am unable to give a clearer indication of the size of any government financial support, principally because the plans are still in development. We know that Sir Peter Hendy is working some up, but of course there will be other plans coming through from DCMS and DfT. As those plans come together, of course the Government will consider financial support.