Oral Answers to Questions

Jason McCartney Excerpts

Tuesday 9th December 2014 Commons Chamber

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked—

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to encourage investment in infrastructure in west Yorkshire.

[Mr Mark Spencer (Sherwood) (Con)]

12. What fiscal steps he is taking to encourage investment in infrastructure.

[Jason McCartney]

I very much look forward to the northern powerhouse coming over the Pennines to west Yorkshire. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the new bidders for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express rail franchises will commit themselves to getting rid of the antiquated Pacer trains that plague commuters in my constituency on their daily commute?

[Danny Alexander]

My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue, which is raised by Members of Parliament and constituents from across the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchise areas. I can confirm that in the autumn statement we set out some changes that we would make to those two franchises. The packages for the new franchises will include a substantial package of upgrades, including new services and modern trains in order to phase out the outdated Pacer trains, which have also been raised with us under the Deputy Prime Minister’s Northern Futures programme.