Stephen Williams
Main Page: Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat - Bristol West)(12 years, 5 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
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Greg Clark
The reforms give more control and more direct ability for authorities to have the resources that they need to invest. One of the features of the system that we inherited from several Governments is that too often our great cities, which have an international standing and reputation, have had to look up to Whitehall to plead for assistance when they have the capacity and resilience to invest and reap the rewards themselves. That is the change that we want to secure and these proposals are a step towards that.
Stephen Williams (Bristol West) (LD)
The Minister has visited Bristol and he will know that the city of Bristol is not the same as Bristol city council. A pot of money will be welcome to help to solve the city’s transport problems, but power over the entire urban area would be more welcome. Will the Minister endorse the case for an integrated transport authority for the county that used to be Avon?
Greg Clark
This is one of the proposals that I expect to come from Bristol. The Government recognise, in this document, that cities include their surrounding area, and indeed that is how local enterprise partnerships defined themselves. One of the criteria for the deals is to ensure that all the connections in the area in and around the city are reflected in what is proposed, so I expect that to be part of the discussion that we will have with the authorities in my hon. Friend’s area.