Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Seely Excerpts
Thursday 30th January 2020

(4 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Grant Shapps Portrait Grant Shapps
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Unlike the hon. Gentleman, I do not think that MPs who represent their constituents, whichever side of the debate they are on, are somehow undermining democracy—quite the opposite, in fact. This is the biggest infrastructure decision that this country has ever made and the biggest in Europe. It is quite right that it is properly and carefully considered, using not only that Network Rail evidence but everything else. The good news is that he will not have to wait too long.

Bob Seely Portrait Bob Seely (Isle of Wight) (Con)
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I welcome the fresh new approach of this Front-Bench team. Given the importance of sustainable transport and sustainable housing, do Ministers agree that building low-density housing on greenfield sites is bad for sustainable transport, bad for sustainable housing and bad for our environment, because it is so car-dependent, which is why so many of our constituents object?

George Freeman Portrait The Minister of State, Department for Transport (George Freeman)
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I commend my hon. Friend on that point and his “Island Manifesto”, in which he makes that point. We are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that we move the dial on much better integration of cycling, walking and public transport in new housing.