Oral Answers to Questions

Perran Moon Excerpts

Thursday 21st November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mike Kane]

Like our rail users, bus users depend on punctuality. Our bus services have not been up to scratch, with vast underfunding over the past few years. We are hoping that the £955 million investment in our buses will give local communities the powers they need to hold operators to account on the punctuality of those buses, so that our young people can get to their colleges and schools on time.

[Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Lab)]

6. What steps she is taking to improve transport infrastructure.

[Jen Craft (Thurrock) (Lab)]

10. What steps she is taking to improve transport infrastructure.

--- Later in debate ---

[Perran Moon]

I associate myself with the comments about Lord Prescott.

Public access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure is vital to encourage motorists to switch away from petrol and diesel vehicles, but the roll-out process is reliant on dedicated and experienced local authority resources, funding for which is due to run out next year. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss measures to avoid local authorities becoming bottlenecks in the roll-out of publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure?

[Louise Haigh]

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. Our manifesto was clear that we are committed to accelerating the electric vehicle charge point roll-out, particularly to address the inequity across the country. I fully recognise the importance of local authorities in achieving that, and in the Budget we announced over £200 million of investment in charging for 2025-26, including that important support for local authorities. I am sure that my hon. Friend the Minister for the future of roads would be happy to meet him.