Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Grant Shapps and Gareth Johnson

Tuesday 29th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con)]

T5. Will the Secretary of State join me in condemning the actions of the London Mayor in extending the ULEZ scheme out to the whole of London? This will have a significant impact on businesses both inside and outside London, creating a financial wall between London and the rest of the country, and hitting areas such as Dartford particularly hard, which, of course, have no say in who the Mayor of London is.

[Grant Shapps]

That is absolutely right. Voters will have their say. I say no taxation without representation.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Grant Shapps and Gareth Johnson

Thursday 28th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[Grant Shapps]

The House will know that, through a process called the Brexit operations committee, there were over 180 meetings, which have ensured that, with regard to the routing that those lorries take—typically down to Kent and through the so-called short straits—we have seen no queues at all thanks to that planning. There have been some issues with paperwork. I know that that has impacted Scottish fish. I know that Scottish fishermen are celebrating the fact that they can catch and keep a quarter more—in five and a half years’ time there will be no requirement to give any of it away, subject to the discussions then—and I know that additional money and assistance is going to both the Scottish Government and Scottish fishermen in order to resolve any outstanding problems with paperwork, which I trust will be concluded as quickly as possible.

[Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con) [V]]

What discussions has my hon. Friend had with the Mayor of London about his proposals to charge my constituents in Kent £3.50 to drive into the neighbouring London Borough of Bexley? Does my hon. Friend agree that that would have a catastrophic and disproportionate impact on places such as Dartford that border London?

International Travel

Debate between Grant Shapps and Gareth Johnson

Monday 7th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Grant Shapps]

Yes, the usual pattern is in the afternoon on a Thursday with the measures then coming in at 4 am, as the hon. Gentleman says. I understand the point about the changeover date, as I mentioned before, which has to be measured against the question, “If you know there is a problem, is it right to wait and allow that problem to develop?” But it is a judgment call and I am not going to pretend otherwise. As I said to my hon. Friend the Member for South West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous), I will certainly be reflecting on this further.

[Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con)]

Thousands of international travellers used to come into the country via HS1 before the virus hit. Now HS1 is in a perilous position, with both Ebbsfleet and Ashford stations closed until at least 2021. Given the Department’s commitment to high-speed rail, would the Secretary of State or one of his team care to meet HS1, Eurostar and me to try to resolve this serious situation?