Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Chi Onwurah Excerpts
Thursday 16th December 2021

(2 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Trudy Harrison Portrait Trudy Harrison
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As I said, we already have 50 buses operating now and a number of schemes are being supported through the variety of funds I have just set out. As for the more detailed information the hon. Gentleman requests, I will endeavour to write to him.

Chi Onwurah Portrait Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
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6. What steps he is taking to support affordable bus travel in the north-east.

Trudy Harrison Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Trudy Harrison)
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The Government are investing £1.2 billion of new funding to deliver better bus services in England, including across the north-east.

Chi Onwurah Portrait Chi Onwurah
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Despite having lower average earnings, my constituents pay much more for their bus journey than Londoners. Yet the Secretary of State refuses to confirm funding for our bus service improvement plan or to confirm funding for the Metro throughout the covid crisis, which means there is less money for our buses, which he also will not support during the covid crisis. We have had our application to reopen the Leamside line refused. We have had the HS2 eastern leg abandoned, which means there is no hope of getting high-speed trains in Newcastle. We have had the manifesto promises on the Northern Rail Powerhouse refused and they will not even help to paint the Tyne bridge for its 100th birthday. Why are the Government such a scrooge for north-east transport?