Oral Answers to Questions

David Williams Excerpts

Tuesday 21st January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dr Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab)]

6. What steps she is taking to help increase economic growth in Stoke-on-Trent.

[David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)]

15. What steps she has taken to help increase economic growth in Stoke-on-Trent.

[Jonathan Davies (Mid Derbyshire) (Lab)]

16. What steps she has taken to help increase economic growth in Derbyshire.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for the work that she has put into this proposal and for her commitment to delivering growth in her constituency of Stoke. On a recent visit, I had the opportunity to meet JCB in the region and see its important work, particularly on the use of hydrogen. I encourage my hon. Friend to meet the Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports—I am happy to set up that meeting—whose portfolio includes local growth. The Government are committed to driving growth in the midlands, which is why I confirmed funding for the west midlands investment zone at the autumn Budget and also confirmed an extension of the UK shared prosperity fund.

[David Williams]

I warmly welcome the recent investment of an extra £20 million for our buses and an extra £11 million to fix our broken roads across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Does the Chancellor agree that continuing to invest in our roads and public transport is an excellent way to keep our communities connected and to increase job opportunities to boost our local economy?

[Rachel Reeves]

It is great to see two strong advocates for Stoke in the Chamber today. A number of local authorities and, indeed, Labour mayors have raised with me bus procurement and the importance of buses for the local economy. I look forward to working with them, particularly David Skaith in York and North Yorkshire and Steve Rotheram in Liverpool, to boost bus services in communities, and particularly rural communities, to support jobs in the UK. At the Budget, I allocated more than £1 billion for local bus services, and that includes £712 million for local authorities to support and improve bus services in the next financial year.