Monday 10th February 2020

(4 years, 8 months ago)

Ministerial Corrections
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Feryal Clark Portrait Feryal Clark (Enfield North) (Lab)
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11. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of journeys taken by (a) foot and (b) bicycle.

George Freeman Portrait The Minister of State, Department for Transport (George Freeman)
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As the Minister for the future of transport, I am committed both to creating a framework for UK leadership in transport technology and innovation and to bolder measures for place-based cleaner, greener and healthier transport and decarbonisation. I am delighted that, as a result of the £2 billion that we invested during the previous Parliament, we have seen a 13% increase in cycling and walking, and we are committed to a 100% increase over this Parliament.

Feryal Clark Portrait Feryal Clark
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The Minister will be aware that transport accounts for a higher share of overall emissions than any other sector, so helping people to drive less and cycle more is crucial to tackling the climate crisis. We currently spent £7 per head on cycling infrastructure, but the Walking and Cycling Alliance recommends that we should be spending £17 per head on cycling infrastructure if we are serious about improving cycling. He will be aware that the Conservatives’ pledge to spend £350 million on cycling infrastructure actually reduced that spend to £1.18—[Interruption.]

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I call the Minister.

George Freeman Portrait George Freeman
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As the new Minister for the decarbonisation of transport, I can say that the Government are absolutely committed to this, and we have a cycling Prime Minister who is committed to it. We have announced £350 million for cycling infrastructure. As I have said, we are completely committed over this Parliament to doubling the number of people cycling and walking.

[Official Report, 30 January 2020, Vol. 670, c. 917.]

Letter from George Freeman:

Errors have been identified in my responses to the hon. Member for Enfield North (Feryal Clark).

The correct responses should have been:

George Freeman Portrait The Minister of State, Department for Transport (George Freeman)
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As the Minister for the future of transport, I am committed both to creating a framework for UK leadership in transport technology and innovation and to bolder measures for place-based cleaner, greener and healthier transport and decarbonisation. I am delighted that, as a result of the £2 billion that we invested during the previous Parliament, we have seen a 16% increase in walking since 2015 and a 22% increase in cycling since 2013, and we are committed to a 100% increase in cycling over this Parliament.

[Official Report, 30 January 2020, Vol. 670, c. 917.]

George Freeman Portrait George Freeman
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As the new Minister for the decarbonisation of transport, I can say that the Government are absolutely committed to this, and we have a cycling Prime Minister who is committed to it. We have announced £350 million for cycling infrastructure. As I have said, we are completely committed over this Parliament to doubling cycling and increasing walking.