Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Peter Aldous and Robert Courts

Thursday 4th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Robert Courts]

I would be delighted to.

[Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)]

The new agreement between the Department for Transport and Greater Anglia on running the railways in East Anglia has omitted the previous commitment in the franchise to reinstate through-services from Lowestoft to Liverpool Street. Greater Anglia has agreed that it will look at that over the next six months. Will my hon. Friend work with it and me to see whether it is possible to do that?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Peter Aldous and Robert Courts

Thursday 3rd December 2020 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to help the maritime industry to decarbonise.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Robert Courts)]

The Government have recently committed £20 million to support clean maritime technology, and further plans will be set out in the forthcoming transport decarbonisation plan.

[Peter Aldous]

The inclusion of clean maritime in the 10-point plan and the announcement of the £20 million demonstration project are extremely welcome. Can the Minister confirm that he is working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to produce a comprehensive strategy for investment in new green port infrastructure so that ports such as Lowestoft can make the most of the exciting opportunities emerging in renewable energy and sustainable fishing?

[Robert Courts]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right: there can be no clean maritime without clean ports. He is absolutely right to raise the opportunities that exist for our ports, and I thank him for his tireless, passionate advocacy for Lowestoft. I can confirm that my Department, DEFRA and BEIS meet regularly to ensure that our work is aligned and, in particular, that our work on renewable energy and maritime decarbonisation is complementary in approach, because providing the former is a big part of providing the latter.

--- Later in debate ---

[Robert Courts]

We are happy to look at any scheme in detail in order to be assured that it is delivered in the safest, speediest and most practical way possible.

[Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)]

The county all- jparty group is shortly to a publish a report on rural bus services, which will highlight both the vital importance of buses for those living and working in rural areas, and the fact that real-terms funding has fallen by 30% in the 10 years to 2019. Will the Minister assure the House that the needs of rural communities will be prioritised in the forthcoming national bus strategy?

[Robert Courts]

This issue is of enormous importance to all rural communities. I represent a rural area, so I understand the points my hon. Friend makes. The Government entirely understand the importance of sustainability of rural transport for communities across the UK. The national bus strategy we are developing will set out how national and local government, and the private sector, together, will meet the needs of these communities.