Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Wera Hobhouse Excerpts
Thursday 24th November 2022

(2 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Harper Portrait Mr Harper
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I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for her question and for her work when she was Home Secretary to strengthen the law to enable us to deal with those who cause disruption on our transport network. I would be delighted to meet her and the leader of Essex County Council to talk about those important road projects.

Wera Hobhouse Portrait Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
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Research from the Campaign for Better Transport suggests that the Government are so far behind on their electrification plans that rolling stock leasing companies are being forced to destroy electric units that they cannot use. At the same time, the Government continue to introduce new diesel trains—more not zero than net zero. Will the Government ensure that they order no more diesel trains and get on with electrification?

Huw Merriman Portrait Huw Merriman
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The Government are committed to phasing out all diesel trains by 2040. That remains our aim and our ambition. There is electrification going on at the moment along the west midlands line, and we are certainly committed to ensuring that we can roll out more electrification, and indeed use hydrogen and battery power where appropriate, in the years to come.