Midland Main Line (Electrification) Debate
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Roger Gale
Main Page: Roger Gale (Conservative - North Thanet)Department Debates - View all Roger Gale's debates with the Department for Transport
Midland Main Line (Electrification)
Roger Gale Excerpts(8 years, 7 months ago)
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Several hon. Members rose—
Sir Roger Gale (in the Chair)
Order. Five or six people who wish to speak have already submitted their names to the Speaker’s office. I will not impose a formal time limit, but if hon. Members confine their remarks to about five minutes, we should be able to accommodate everybody who has applied and maybe one or two who have not.
Robert Jenrick
I thank my hon. Friend for that remark. The east midlands consistently loses out across a whole range of areas, which include funding for our schools, our police service, our fire authorities, our local councils and, indeed, rail investment and our LEPs. Part of the blame for that must rest on us as Members of Parliament, because we need to be better at putting forward a consistent and intelligent approach. I look forward to the Government’s taking the east midlands more seriously in the years to come.
Sir Roger Gale (in the Chair)
Order. Mr Hendry, I called you earlier because I wanted to make absolutely certain that you had sufficient time to make your remarks. As a Front-Bench spokesman, if you wish to make any additional brief remarks now, you may do so.
Drew Hendry
Thank you for offering me the opportunity to make additional remarks, Sir Roger, but I do not need to do so.
Richard Burden
If the hon. Gentleman wants to talk about the record of the last Labour Government, I am happy to do so. There is not a lot of time.
Sir Roger Gale (in the Chair)
Order. The shadow Minister might be happy to do so, but the Chairman is not.
Richard Burden
I will simply say that Labour invested more in the railways in real terms than any previous Government.
I hope the Minister is able to confirm today that, whatever happened in the past, Cinderella will finally get to the ball. Ultimately, passengers in that part of the country need to know whether the full speed improvements package will go ahead, as planned. I even hope that she is able to tell us that electrification of the midland main line will go ahead under a reasonable timetable, as promised. When will that announcement be made?
This has been happening not for years but for decades. Passengers deserve clarity, and the Government are the only people who can give that clarity. I hope the Minister will do that today.