Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Thursday 22nd July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Jane Ellison (Battersea) (Con)]

To refer my right hon. Friend to earlier answers on rail franchising—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We cannot go into that. We are dealing with a specific question about cancellation of passenger flights, on which I thought the hon. Lady wanted to contribute. Never mind—we will move on.

[Hugh Bayley (York Central) (Lab)]

12. What plans he has for the future of the franchise for the east coast main line rail service.

--- Later in debate ---

[Andrew George (St Ives) (LD)]

T2. The Chancellor promised that the vulnerable would be protected from budget cuts, but I know that Ministers will be well aware that there has been much speculation about the future viability of the bus service operators grant, which is clearly essential to many marginal rural services, the sustainability of which would be called into question if that were to be in any way cut. What reassurance can Ministers give me and my constituents that those rural services, which are essential—

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has reached a question mark.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Norman Baker)]

I recognise the importance that many attach to the bus service operators grant. The Government intend to try to increase the number of people using the bus. However, we also want to get a fair deal for the taxpayer and the passenger, and that is the direction of travel that we wish to pursue. Ensuring that people can travel by bus in my hon. Friend’s constituency and elsewhere in rural areas is important to that objective.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Order. This is Topical Questions, so one question—short and sharp.

[Mr Hammond]

I think I can gather the balance of the question, Mr Speaker. We well understand that the national strategic and economic benefits of the high- speed rail network have to be balanced against local environmental disbenefits. Of course, the project will be designed with maximum sensitivity in mind, and I am happy to tell my hon. Friend that I will be visiting the line of the proposed route in the summer recess.