Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding will be allocated to the third road investment strategy.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 June, this Government will deliver improvements to people’s everyday travel by providing £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve national and local roads across the country. We will confirm funding for the third Road Investment Strategy in due course.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to allocate funding for specific projects as part of the third road investment strategy.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport will confirm the enhancement schemes and large-scale renewals to be delivered in the next road period when the third Road Investment Strategy is published in early 2026. National Highways will then publish further details in its Delivery Plan.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with National Highways on the A1 through North Northumberland.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I hold regular discussions with National Highways on matters related to the Strategic Road Network. I am aware that National Highways is undertaking a safety study on the A1 through Northumberland which focuses on how it can improve the route’s safety rating. The study will identify specific locations where safety performance can be enhanced. These locations can then be considered for funding as part of the future Road Investment Strategies.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the safety record of the A1 through North Northumberland, in the context of RIS3 funding.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways has considered the safety record of the A1 through North Northumberland, along with other priorities for this section of the route, as part of its London to Scotland (East) Route Strategy. The outputs of this work will be considered as part of final decisions on investment in the third Road Investment Strategy.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with Great British Railways to ensure equality of access to the rail network for (a) nationalised and (b) open access operators.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government does not believe the current access is working in the best interests of passengers and taxpayers. Our consultation set out proposals for fundamental reform of the access and charging framework under Great British railways, a single directing mind, able to take decisions on access in the public interest and make the best use of expensive national infrastructure.
The Government has been very clear that where it adds value and opens up new markets, with better outcomes for passengers, and where the levels of abstraction and service reliability impacts are acceptable, there will remain a place for open access on the Great British Railways managed railway. Great British Railways will be held to account by the ORR through a robust and independent appeals function which will ensure access decisions are fair and non-discriminatory with the ability to direct appropriate remedies.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she has made an assessment of the potential merits of an increased power supply on the East Coast Mainline north of Berwick.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In order to support the planned introduction of the route’s recast timetable in December 2025, Network Rail have conducted detailed route-wide power modelling. Network Rail will continue to undertake similar activity to help inform future plans for East Coast Main Line investment, including sections of the route north of Berwick.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of public ownership on rail fares on the East Coast mainline.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Whilst it is our ambition through public ownership to deliver a more affordable railway, any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers, and the railway.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the public ownership of railways for the North East.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Public ownership will end the failed franchising system, allowing operators to serve the interests of passengers and taxpayers in the North-East and across the country, rather than private operators and their shareholders. Public ownership will mean all parts of the railway can pull together for the benefit of passengers and bringing passenger services into public ownership is the first step in the Government’s wider programme of reform. Public ownership will also save the taxpayer up to an estimated £150 million a year in fees that are currently paid out to private-sector operators.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with freight companies on the cost of transporting small vans across the Channel.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As Minister for the Future of Roads I regularly meet with freight companies and trade associations, as do officials. Noting that lorries and vans crossing the Channel continue to be a key route for importing and exporting goods, I am keen to continue these discussions and welcome using a future engagement to consider small vans specifically.