Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Selaine Saxby Excerpts
Wednesday 17th April 2024

(3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Prime Minister was asked—
Selaine Saxby Portrait Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con)
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Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 17 April.

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak)
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We are joined today in the Gallery by postmasters caught up in the Horizon IT scandal. It is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our history, which is why we have introduced a Bill to quash convictions, delivered schemes to ensure swift compensation, and established an independent inquiry.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

Selaine Saxby Portrait Selaine Saxby
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that towns such as Barnstaple—the main transport hub in North Devon, serving hundreds of square miles—should have a fully functioning bus station? Liberal Democrat-run North Devon Council has not reopened ours since the pandemic, leaving residents out in the cold with no public facilities. Does my right hon. Friend agree that, as people start to feel the difference as a result of tax cuts and falling inflation, we should be making it easier for people to use the bus, come to town and support Barnstaple’s local economy? Will he join me in calling on the Lib Dems to get on with reopening the bus station?

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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We know how vital bus services are for communities right across the country. That is why we are providing Devon with £17 million to deliver better bus services, and we introduced the £2 fare bus cap. I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport recently visited my hon. Friend and saw the benefits of reopening Barnstaple bus station, and it is clear that the local Liberal Democrats should just get on and do it.