Oral Answers to Questions

Olivia Bailey Excerpts
Thursday 13th February 2025

(1 week, 1 day ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lilian Greenwood Portrait Lilian Greenwood
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I thank the hon. Lady for that question. Improving accessibility in our railways stations is incredibly important. I am sure that the Rail Minister will be happy to write to her on the specifics of her station and to consider the proposals that have been made.

Olivia Bailey Portrait Olivia Bailey (Reading West and Mid Berkshire) (Lab)
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11. What steps she is taking to improve road safety.

Lilian Greenwood Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood)
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The last Labour Government halved the number of people killed on our roads each year. Under the Conservatives that progress stalled, with only a 12% reduction between 2010 and 2023, when almost 30,000 people were killed or seriously injured on our roads. That is about one casualty every 18 minutes. That shocking statistic is why improving road safety is one of my key priorities. We are developing our road safety strategy, the first in a decade, and will set out more details in due course.

Olivia Bailey Portrait Olivia Bailey
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I thank the Minister for that answer. Nearly 400 of my constituents have filled in my survey about the dangerously short slip roads on the A34 at East Ilsley and Beedon. They include Nick, who never uses the Beedon junction when his young family are in the car and is even considering moving house because he believes it is a real risk to their lives. Will the Minister meet me and raise the issue of dangerous junctions with National Highways, so we can make them safe for local people?

Lilian Greenwood Portrait Lilian Greenwood
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I commend my hon. Friend for her support for safer roads. National Highways has undertaken several safety studies on sections of the A34. I am aware that improvement works took place on the East Ilsley slip in 2019, including work to widen, resurface and add new road markings. It continues to review concerns about safety on the road and is happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the issue further and plan a site visit. I will, of course, keep up to date with progress.