Road Maintenance
Debate between Heidi Alexander and Robbie Moore(2 weeks, 5 days ago)
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Heidi Alexander
The wider transparency and accountability measures we have announced, whereby we are withholding a quarter of the funding uplift until such time as the local authority has demonstrated how it is using that money, will hopefully be of assistance to both the hon. Lady and her constituents.
It is only right that taxpayers can see how their money is being spent. This new era of accountability and transparency will see their cash being put to good use, and road users will see the results.
Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)
Will the Secretary of State give way?
Heidi Alexander
I will just make a little bit of progress. I will give way to the hon. Gentleman later.
The Government will end decades of decay on our roads. We will lift the lid on how taxpayers’ money gets spent. We think that is a crucial part of the solution. I am pleased that this move has been positively received, with the RAC, National Highways, Logistics UK and so many more coming out in support. In fact, Edmund King, president of the AA, described it as
“a…concerted attack on the plague of potholes”.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I could not have put it better myself. It is great to see councils broadly welcoming our approach, too. As Councillor Adam Hug, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, put it:
“it’s in everyone’s interests to ensure that public money is well spent.”
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Heidi Alexander and Robbie Moore(2 months, 1 week ago)
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Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)
A recent freedom of information request revealed that, of identified highways spending across the Bradford district by Bradford council over the past six years, £49 million was spent within Bradford city itself, but only £4 million was spent in Keighley and my wider constituency, despite streets such as Elliott Street in Silsden being in a very poor state of repair. Will the Secretary of State write to leaders at Bradford council and remind them that highways spending needs to be spent equally across the whole Bradford district, including places such as Keighley and Ilkley, and not just within Bradford city centre?
Heidi Alexander
I am not the sort of Secretary of State who would sit at my desk in Whitehall and instruct local authorities to spend certain amounts of money on certain roads. I expect local authorities to take strategic decisions based on where the investment is needed, and I will leave it to local leaders to make those decisions.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Heidi Alexander and Robbie Moore(3 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Heidi Alexander
I will. I know that my hon. Friend represents the proud railway city of York, as I represent the proud railway town of Swindon. I look forward to having that meeting with her.
Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley) (Con)