Oral Answers to Questions

Kerry McCarthy Excerpts

Wednesday 18th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

The Government remain committed to supporting disabled people and determined that that support should be targeted at those most impacted by their health condition or disability. As the hon. Lady will know, the new personal independence payment will be objective, fair and strongly evidence-based and will enable accurate and consistent assessments of individuals to determine who will benefit most from additional support.

[Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab)]

4. What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the First Great Western franchise.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr David Jones)]

The Wales Office has regular discussions with the Department for Transport on a range of transport issues that affect Wales.

[Kerry McCarthy]

Does the Minister think that electrification of the First Great Western line will boost house prices along the route and, if so, would he advise my constituents in Bristol and the good people of Wales perhaps to wait a while before selling their homes?

[Mr Jones]

I am sure that the hon. Lady is in a better position to assess the impact of electrification on her constituents than I am, but I would have thought that it is something that Members on both sides of the House would welcome.