Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the adequacy of the (a) bus network and (b) existing transport infrastructure in Madeley.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to delivering better buses for passengers throughout England, and I would be happy to meet to discuss local bus services in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to ensure that people in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency are paid the HS2 compensation that they are owed.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone owed compensation, whether in Newcastle-under-Lyme or anywhere along the HS2 route, should receive it as soon as possible once it falls due. I will continue to impress upon HS2 Ltd the necessity of working closely with claimants and their agents to ensure that claims are properly evidenced and then paid promptly.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with Staffordshire County Council on the condition of road surfaces in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency; and if she will visit Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency to assess the condition of road surfaces.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I welcome conversations with local authorities, including Staffordshire County Council, to better understand the challenges that they face with regards to maintenance of the local highway network. I look forward to receiving an invite and further details in due course.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to improve the bus network in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will pass the Better Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs to the communities who rely on them, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
We also plan to empower local transport authorities through reforming bus funding. By giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding they can plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities. The Department will work closely with local leaders and bus operators to deliver on the government’s ambitions.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the service provided by Avanti West Coast.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The performance of Avanti West Coast (AWC) has been inadequate, with too many cancellations and delays. Poor Network Rail infrastructure reliability has also contributed to the disruption experienced by passengers. The Secretary of State met with the Managing Director of AWC and the Network Rail Route Director on 16 July to challenge them on poor performance and demand immediate action to deliver urgent improvements.