Asked by: Simon Baynes (Conservative - Clwyd South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is providing to local authorities to increase the amount of road space provided for cycling.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
On 9 May, the Secretary of State launched the new Emergency Active Travel Fund making £225 million available to local authorities in England this year. Any funding on top of the Department for Transport’s current budgets will have Barnett Consequentials applied in the usual way for Wales. This funding is designed to help authorities increase provision for walking and cycling during the period of social distancing restrictions. This fund represents the first stage of a £2 billion investment in walking and cycling. This is the largest ever boost for active travel, and will deliver transformational change.
Asked by: Simon Baynes (Conservative - Clwyd South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support the rail industry during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Department has offered operators of all of its franchises a short-term Emergency Measures Agreement, a six month pause of the financial mechanisms within their Franchise Agreements. This offer has been accepted in all cases and the agreements have been in place since 1 April, effective from 1 March. They have stabilised the industry, kept services running and provided assurance for those working on the railway. We continue to work to support operators as needed and bring stability and certainty to the industry during this turbulent time.