Rail Investment

Anna Soubry Excerpts
Monday 16th July 2012

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Justine Greening Portrait Justine Greening
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We are working our way around the UK. In fact, by the end of this decade around three quarters of passenger miles will be on electrified railways. I can assure the hon. Lady that the Government absolutely want to progress electrification—it is better for the railways overall, it has a good business case, and it is good for the environment—but obviously we still have to cut our cloth to meet the public affordability needs, which is what we are trying to do. She will know that I have taken a real interest in her area, which is one of the reasons why, while I have been Secretary of State for Transport, we have halved the tolls on the Humber bridge.

Anna Soubry Portrait Anna Soubry (Broxtowe) (Con)
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This is a great day for Greater Nottingham, which has waited many years for the electrification of the midland main line. Can the Secretary of State, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart, confirm that it will give a real economic boost to Beeston in my constituency, to the enterprise zone, and to the business park which is bang opposite the station?

Justine Greening Portrait Justine Greening
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I am absolutely sure that it will. We are developing a fantastic midland main line for what is a fantastic city.