Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Jesse Norman

Thursday 20th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

One can take that as a comment either about buses or about the size of my right hon. Friend’s lawnmower—let us assume that it is about buses. I thank him for his interest and I am certainly happy to discuss that further with him.

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

8. What steps his Department is taking to help deliver major rail infrastructure improvements in the north of England.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Jesse Norman

Thursday 21st March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

That is such an important question. We are working closely across all parts of the Department for Transport to think about improving road safety. I have huge respect for the work that Chris Boardman is doing in Manchester. I have met him on several occasions, as well as Brian Deegan, his chief designer, and we have specifically discussed that issue. There is a tension between national standards and local innovation. We are keen to ensure that both are met in the right way. I will certainly take this up again, because it is an important issue, and we want to see more innovation, particularly in support of road safety.

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

Cycling and walking are good for the environment and they reduce congestion, support the public health agenda and are great fun. Chris Boardman is doing an excellent job in Greater Manchester, and I am about to appoint an active travel commissioner for South Yorkshire. Will the Minister meet my new active travel commissioner and me to discuss how we can work together to encourage more people to cycle and walk?

[Jesse Norman]

It is absolutely right to celebrate what is being done in Manchester. It is also important to celebrate what is being done elsewhere in the country. If Sheffield is taking a lead, that is fantastic. Great work is also being done in Birmingham by the Mayor there, who has just appointed his own west midlands cycling champion, which we welcome.

Regional Transport Infrastructure

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Jesse Norman

Tuesday 5th March 2019 Westminster Hall

[Dan Jarvis]

It has been a wide-ranging debate and I am grateful to all hon. Members who have contributed. There has been general agreement on the importance of active travel. Perhaps the Minister might consider appointing a country-wide active travel commissioner.

[Jesse Norman]

Already in progress.

[Dan Jarvis]

I am delighted to hear that, because it will provide an important opportunity to join up the good work that is taking place across the country.

The point about the Green Book criteria might sound niche, but it is vital. I am pleased that the Minister has made a commitment to meet hon. Members to discuss the detail of those criteria. I look forward to that opportunity.

The point I want to end on is that the architecture and governance around the decisions that underpin transport infrastructure is a crowded field; lots of different organisations and stakeholders are involved, from national Government and the Department to Network Rail, combined mayoral authorities and local authorities. In the north, however, the landscape has changed recently with Transport for the North, which is doing an important job well and is well led. It has successfully established a consensus among leaders. Northern Powerhouse Rail’s strategic outline business case and the strategic transport plan show us that we can do it. We just need the Government to allocate the resources to underpin the plans that have been agreed in the north.

Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 10(6)).

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Jesse Norman

Thursday 18th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

What progress is being made on delivering bus franchising powers for elected Mayors?

[Jesse Norman]

As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the Bus Services Act 2017 has created those powers. We are in conversations—my officials are in conversations —with Mayors in Manchester and elsewhere in the country, and we remain very interested in having further conversations with other Mayors who wish to avail themselves of these powers.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Jesse Norman

Thursday 19th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman]

I wish the hon. Gentleman very good luck in his ride with Chris Boardman, and I hope that Chris knows what he is letting himself in for. I have met both the Mayor of Manchester and Chris directly to discuss this strategy, and Chris has been kind enough to share it with me and my officials. Of course, from a central Government standpoint, we will do what we can to support it.

[Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)]

16. What recent assessment he has made of the equity of the distribution of regional transport infrastructure investment.