Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Kevin Foster Excerpts
Thursday 29th October 2015

(9 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Goodwill Portrait Mr Goodwill
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One of the concerns that I have picked up around the country, outside the south-east, is that owing to the pressure for slots at both Heathrow and Gatwick at peak times, connecting flights coming in from other parts of the country are always an issue, and we are well aware of the acute need for that issue to be addressed.

Kevin Foster Portrait Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)
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13. What progress his Department has made on upgrading and enhancing the railway in the south-west.

Claire Perry Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Claire Perry)
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We are making significant progress in upgrading and enhancing the railway in the south-west by investing in track and stations, upgrading and delivering new trains to carry more people on faster journeys, and, as we heard earlier, improving resilience to ensure that the region can stay connected.

Kevin Foster Portrait Kevin Foster
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The Devon and Cornwall peninsula rail task force recently published its interim report on a 20-year plan for Devon and Cornwall’s railways. Can the Minister confirm that the Government’s primary aim is to secure the resilience of the Great Western main line through south Devon, and that any other options that are considered will be additional measures, not alternatives?

Claire Perry Portrait Claire Perry
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I have the report here, I have read it, and I am happy to confirm that the other options would indeed be alternatives, not replacements.