Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Wera Hobhouse Excerpts
Thursday 2nd March 2023

(1 year, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Harper Portrait Mr Harper
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The good news for the hon. Gentleman is that we have made progress on that, and we are hoping to set out what will happen on that publicly in the very near future. He does not have too long to wait and I hope he will have news that he will welcome.

Wera Hobhouse Portrait Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
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Network Rail has said that 278 miles of track must be electrified every year to reach net zero. Last year, the Government added only 1.4 miles of newly electrified track, including Bath, and we are still waiting for electrification. To meet our net zero targets, will the Secretary of State commit to electrifying all new railway lines?

Mark Harper Portrait Mr Harper
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The hon. Lady will know that we have electrified 1,200 miles of the rail network in Great Britain since 2010, and that work continues. We clearly think that electrifying the rail network is important for our net zero commitments, and we will continue to make progress. I hope she will welcome that.