Oral Answers to Questions

Lauren Sullivan Excerpts

Thursday 11th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alison Hume (Scarborough and Whitby) (Lab)]

18. What steps she is taking to ensure that the transport system supports economic growth.

[Dr Lauren Sullivan (Gravesham) (Lab)]

23. What steps she is taking to ensure that the transport system supports economic growth.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Heidi Alexander)]

The Government confirmed over £92 billion of capital investment in transport infrastructure at the spending review to drive economic growth and put more money in people’s pockets. That includes £24 billion to improve roads, £15 billion in long-term funding for our largest city regions and £2 billion for local transport, boosting growth in towns, cities and regions across the country.

--- Later in debate ---

[Heidi Alexander]

I assure my hon. Friend that we are committed to driving economic growth in all areas, not only the large city regions. York and North Yorkshire combined authority will receive £94 million in local transport grant capital funding over the next four years, allowing local leaders to support schemes, including public transport schemes, that are in line with local priorities.

[Dr Sullivan]

Given the scale of the disruption that Gravesham faces during the construction of the lower Thames crossing, what steps will the Secretary of State take to ensure that a new transport system there supports real jobs for local people and has wider economic benefit? For example, reinstating the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry would strengthen business connections across the Thames.

[Heidi Alexander]

My hon. Friend will know that ferry services run on a private sector basis to meet local demand, and funding for local ferry services is a matter for local partners, including Thurrock council and Kent county council. However, my officials are working with them to ensure that the public transport opportunities that the lower Thames crossing may create are exploited.