Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Eastwood Excerpts

Thursday 19th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Robert Courts]

As I have explained, the Government are committed to taking action. We have nine points that we are addressing, and ports are being asked to act because they are the area where we have control and where we can enforce national minimum wage legislation. That is a critical plank of the action we are taking—it is not everything, but it is one of the most important things. We will continue to talk to colleagues across Government about any other steps we might take on employment legislation more generally.

[Mark Eastwood (Dewsbury) (Con)]

3. What steps he is taking to improve local transport services.

[Danny Kruger (Devizes) (Con)]

5. What steps he is taking to improve local transport services.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Trudy Harrison)]

Driving improvements to local transport services is vital to levelling up. That is why we have committed £5 billion this Parliament to do that.

[Mark Eastwood]

Reductions in rural bus services in the Dewsbury constituency continue to be a major problem, particularly in villages without nearby rail access such as Grange Moor, Flockton and Emley, leaving many local people unable to access GP surgeries and local amenities. Does my hon. Friend agree that private bus companies and the West Yorkshire Mayor need to look at ways of improving and increasing bus services across rural areas, rather than just focusing on major towns and cities?

[Trudy Harrison]

That is totally right. That should absolutely be the focus. The Government are determined that great bus services should be available to everyone, everywhere. We have recently announced that we will provide funding to improve bus services in a wide range of areas, and I am delighted with the £70 million that is being made available to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.