Oral Answers to Questions

Nicola Richards Excerpts

Tuesday 11th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to allocate funding for improved transport infrastructure throughout the UK.

[Nicola Richards (West Bromwich East) (Con)]

19. What steps he is taking to allocate funding for improved transport infrastructure throughout the UK.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Rishi Sunak)]

Better transport is central to our ambition to level up and spread opportunity across the United Kingdom. That is why the Chancellor will be unveiling, alongside his Budget, the national infrastructure strategy, which will set out further details of our plan to increase capital investment to record levels and transform the UK’s infrastructure.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rishi Sunak]

I am delighted to hear about the economic growth that is happening in my hon. Friend’s constituency. I know that her local councils are a key part of driving that. I am pleased to say that the Government announced today a £5 billion package to support local transport infrastructure such as buses and cycleways, alongside our existing £3.6 billion towns fund, which 16 different places across the east midlands have benefited from.

[Nicola Richards]

Andy Street’s vision to revolutionise our transport networks in the west midlands, coupled with the continuation of the HS2 project, will hugely benefit my constituents in West Bromwich East, especially those in Great Barr. The vision that Andy set out only last week included the expansion of the West Midlands Metro system. Ahead of the Budget next month, will my right hon. Friend look at what further funding can be made available to level up our transport infrastructure in the west midlands?

[Rishi Sunak]

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the importance of local intra-city transportation. Obviously the Prime Minister will be making a statement later about national infrastructure. We heard what Andy Street had to say. We are engaging with the Mayor on his exciting plans for intra-city transport and the expansion of the metro line in the west midlands area.