Oral Answers to Questions

Daniel Kawczynski Excerpts
Thursday 17th March 2022

(2 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts
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The point that the hon. Member misses is that we have also had the jet zero consultation. A number of presentations have come in on that and we need to consider them carefully. There is a lot of interesting work going on and we will respond on that in due course, which will give us the context to consider jet zero and the impact of covid. We will then look at the ANPS again.

Daniel Kawczynski Portrait Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con)
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13. What assessment he has made of the potential role of rail electrification in the Government’s net zero strategy.

Chris Stephens Portrait Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) (SNP)
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17. What assessment he has made of the (a) potential merits of and (b) UK capability for accelerating the decarbonisation of transport.

Trudy Harrison Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Trudy Harrison)
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Our transport decarbonisation plan sets out how we will decarbonise the transport sector by 2050. Electrification will play an important role in decarbonising all modes. As my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton), the Rail Minister, has already said, over 1,221 track miles of electrification have been delivered in Great Britain since 2010, compared with 63 in the 14 years of the previous Administration, and we continue to expand the electrified rail network. For example, the integrated rail plan announcement confirmed that we will complete the electrification of the midland main line and deliver full electrification and upgrade of the trans-Pennine main line.

Daniel Kawczynski Portrait Daniel Kawczynski
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I thank the Minister for her answer. We are in negotiations with Midlands Connect and her Department about upgrades and new investments on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line, which is a very important line in the west midlands. Will she give me a commitment that she will look at that with a view to electrifying the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line as soon as possible?

Trudy Harrison Portrait Trudy Harrison
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I can certainly give that commitment. I know that my hon. Friend has met with the Rail Minister and will do so again. As he knows, Midlands Connect is developing a business case for journey time improvements on the line connecting Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Birmingham. This will assess the enhancements required, the timescales for delivery and the costs and benefits of the scheme.