All 1 Debates between Patrick Spencer and Simon Lightwood

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patrick Spencer and Simon Lightwood
Thursday 10th October 2024

(2 months, 2 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Simon Lightwood Portrait Simon Lightwood
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I agree with my hon. Friend. I reassure him that we are committed to delivering better bus services and that we will always put passengers first. Our forthcoming bus Bill is a crucial part of our reforms. When it is introduced later in this Session, it will increase powers available to local leaders, because those local leaders are best placed to make decisions on their bus networks, and remove the Conservatives’ ideological ban on municipal bus companies.

Patrick Spencer Portrait Patrick Spencer (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) (Con)
- Hansard - -

20. What steps her Department is taking to improve transport links in rural areas.

Simon Lightwood Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

The Government know that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Under the previous Government, the loss of thousands of vital bus services across the country has left too many rural areas with poor transport links. That is why the Government will be introducing a new buses Bill to put power over local services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs of the communities that rely on them, including in Suffolk and other rural areas in England.

Patrick Spencer Portrait Patrick Spencer
- View Speech - Hansard - -

While I welcome the news that this Government plan to deliver 1,200 UK-made zero-emission buses to help local authorities deliver on their transport ambitions and seize opportunities to embrace zero-emissions transport technology, may I ask what consideration the Secretary of State and her Department have given to the much-needed expansion of electric vehicle charging networks in rural communities, specifically those in central Suffolk, to support the roll-out of the electric fleet?

Simon Lightwood Portrait Simon Lightwood
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

We will be making an announcement soon on that expansion.