Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

James Daly Excerpts
Thursday 26th October 2023

(1 year, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Richard Holden Portrait Mr Holden
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My hon. Friend is a real champion for a Sheringham roundabout; in fact, he has dragged me there to visit the A148 junction with Holway Road. I was delighted to do it, and I will be happy to go down and see it again. I understand that Norfolk County Council is continuing preliminary design work and confirming costs and planning requirements, which should put Norfolk in a strong position to make a bid. Although there are no immediate sources for this specific scheme, I encourage the council to continue to work with the safer roads fund, because a new opportunity will arise next year.

James Daly Portrait James Daly (Bury North) (Con)
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10. What steps he is taking to support motorists.

Virginia Crosbie Portrait Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con)
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17. What steps he is taking to support motorists.

Mark Harper Portrait The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Mark Harper)
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Through Network North, we announced £8.3 billion for road resurfacing—the largest allocation of money for local road maintenance ever—and an extra £4 billion for local road schemes. In addition, the plan for drivers set out 30 new measures we are taking to make motorists’ lives easier, from restraining the most aggressively anti-driver traffic management interventions to stopping councils profiting from moving traffic enforcement. Our plans show that the Government are on the side of drivers.

James Daly Portrait James Daly
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Across the country, the Department for Transport and local administrations have had great success in reducing the impact of roadworks on everyday motorists through lane rental schemes. Unfortunately, Greater Manchester is not one of the areas making use of that highly effective tool. Will my right hon. Friend take steps to ensure that Greater Manchester adopts a similar scheme to tackle the massive disruption caused by roadworks?

Mark Harper Portrait Mr Harper
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I entirely agree with the point made by my hon. Friend. I am pleased to report that, following his very effective representations and those of others, the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network committee recently endorsed a decision to develop a proposal to introduce lane rental in Greater Manchester, and discussions are now taking place with local authorities.