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Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Fiona Bruce(8 years, 2 months ago)
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Mr McLoughlin
The hon. Gentleman is always making the case for traditional railway links, although I know he is not so keen on high-speed links. I certainly commend what is happening at Luton airport. A few months ago I saw the regeneration work going on there, which is proving important for the wider area as well.
Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)
12. What steps he is taking to provide funding for local major transport projects.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Fiona Bruce(8 years, 5 months ago)
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Mr McLoughlin
The hon. Lady, as Chairman of the Select Committee, is absolutely right that that is part of what needs to be done. It is part of what is being addressed by David Higgins as chairman of HS2 in his designs for the routes. Also, we wait to see what the National Infrastructure Commission led by Lord Adonis comes out with on the east-west link on HS3.
Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)
Will the Secretary of State give close consideration to how Middlewich railway station can be reopened to passengers? That would facilitate much increased use of the rail line right into Manchester from Crewe and relieve considerable congestion on the M6, which has the support not only of local residents, but of a number of surrounding Members of Parliament.
Mr McLoughlin
I am not sure that comes into the HS2 line route development, but I am more than happy to discuss these matters with my hon. Friend, as is the rail Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Claire Perry). One of the reasons for developing a high-speed rail link is that we need to find a lot more capacity on the existing rail network, and one of the ways we do that is by providing the extra capacity that HS2 will give.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Fiona Bruce(8 years, 7 months ago)
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Mr McLoughlin
With the greatest charity, I do not think the hon. Gentleman can get away with that. We have been making progress on HS2. In 13 years, Labour only woke up to the HS2 project in year 13. The progress we have made far outstrips the progress the Labour party ever made.
Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)
4. What progress has been made on plans to widen lanes on the M6 between junctions 16 and 19.