Business of the House

David Baines Excerpts

Thursday 14th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend is right that these are issues for the Department for Education, working with the Home Secretary. He will be aware that the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill, which will establish Skills England, is going through the Lords at the moment. We have put extra money into further education, we are clamping down on illegal migration, and we are ensuring that the Migration Advisory Committee identifies current and future skills gaps and guides our approach to these matters.

[David Baines (St Helens North) (Lab)]

Garswood and Earlestown stations in my constituency are two of 21 in the Liverpool city region that are not accessible to all passengers. This is something that local residents, councillors and the council have campaigned on for many years, along with previous MPs, and metro mayor Steve Rotheram is supportive of calls to fix the situation. Does the Leader of the House agree that, in this day and age, it is simply unacceptable for rail stations not to be accessible to all passengers? Can she advise me how and where I might raise the issue so that we can get the necessary improvements made quickly?

[Lucy Powell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. It is shocking that, in this day and age, much of our transport infrastructure—in particular our railway infrastructure—remains inaccessible for those with disabilities and other needs. He will be aware that the Transport Secretary made a statement earlier this week about a review of Access for All and work that she is doing in that area, and I know that she is keen to keep the House updated regularly as that work goes forward.