Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Nigel Mills Excerpts
Thursday 7th November 2013

(11 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
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I could point out to the hon. Lady how much of the line was electrified by the previous Labour Government in 13 years: 10 miles, as opposed to the 880 miles that we are planning to electrify as part of our commitment to the railways. She is making yet another case for further electrification of an important line and I shall certainly look at the case again in detail.

Nigel Mills Portrait Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con)
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The Secretary of State will know that the welcome electrification of the midland main line will miss out the two stations in my constituency at Langley Mill and Alfreton. Will he consider the plans to complete that little section so that the whole line is electrified?

Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
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I had a meeting on Monday morning with the people operating the midland main line franchise and that particular issue was pointed out to me. We plan to electrify the whole line from St Pancras up to Sheffield, but my hon. Friend is right that part of it, which goes through his constituency, is missed out. I have no doubt that we will want to look at that as we are doing the rest of the line.