🚗🚌🚆 Oral Answers to Questions

• Electric Vehicles Support:
  • The Government is promoting the shift to electric vehicles through tax incentives, vehicle grants, and expanding charging infrastructure.
  • Sales of electric vehicles in January were 42% higher than the previous year.
  • The National Audit Office confirms the government is on target to meet the 300,000 public charging point goal by 2030.
  • Efforts are underway to dispel myths and increase consumer confidence in electric vehicles, emphasizing their safety, cost-efficiency, and environmental benefits.
  • Collaboration between local authorities and private finance, like Newham council’s deal with Uber, is encouraged to improve charging infrastructure in cities.
  • There is a focus on increasing electric vehicle charging points in rural areas, with a 45% increase last year.
• Local Road Conditions:
  • The Government has allocated an extra £500 million to local councils for highway maintenance to address a decade of underinvestment.
  • Efforts are underway to repair potholes and enhance road safety, with local councils given the responsibility to manage and decide on spending allocations.
• Local Bus Services:
  • A new Bus Services Bill is being introduced to empower local leaders to improve bus services, with over £1 billion invested to support this initiative.
  • The focus is on improving reliability and access, particularly in rural areas, to ensure buses serve communities effectively.
  • Local authorities will have more power to coordinate road networks to alleviate congestion, including the potential for new lane rental schemes.
• Open Access Railway Services:
  • The Government supports open access railway services that add value without diverting revenue from existing operators, though existing track access rights will be honored.
  • Proposed expansions like the Wrexham to London Euston line are supported, but must align with overall network capacity goals.
• Railway Rolling Stock Funding:
  • The Government considers alternative funding models for railway rolling stock purchases as part of broader railway reforms, including public ownership.
• East Coast Main Line Reliability:
  • A £4 billion investment is improving infrastructure and rolling stock on the east coast main line, with a revised timetable expected by December 2025.
  • New digital signaling technology is being introduced, expected to complete in the early 2030s, to improve reliability and capacity.
• Cost of Rail Services:
  • The Government aims to reduce rail fares through public ownership and fare system reform, with a 4.6% fare increase this year being the lowest in three years.
  • Efforts to remove management fees paid to train operating companies and increase efficiency are underway.
• Rural Transport Infrastructure:
  • A £1.6 billion investment is supporting the improvement of local roads, which is crucial for rural communities.
• Road Safety:
  • The Government is developing a new road safety strategy to significantly reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.
  • Specific local issues, such as dangerous slip roads, are being addressed with cooperation from national agencies.
• Rail Passenger Performance:
  • Establishing Great British Railways is a priority, aiming to improve performance by integrating track and train management.
  • Significant investments in rail projects like the TransPennine route upgrade are expected to benefit local communities with faster and more reliable services.
• Regional Airports:
  • The Government encourages more flights from regional airports to boost local economies and job creation, supported by recent expansions like the advanced manufacturing and logistics park at East Midlands airport.
• General Transport Investment:
  • Recent investments in road projects across England aim to reduce journey times and improve safety.
  • The Government is also funding metro extensions, walking and cycling infrastructure to enhance everyday transport experiences.
• Specific Local Issues:
  • Various MPs raised local issues, including roadworks affecting residents, concerns about rail service reliability, and the need for improved transport infrastructure to support local economic growth.

The parliamentary session shows a moderate level of disagreement. The disagreements are more focused on specific policy issues rather than broad or intense conflict across the board. Below are some examples that illustrate the nature and extent of disagreements present in the session:

1. Disagreement on Electric Vehicles (EV) and Consumer Demand:
   • Greg Smith (Con) argues that only one in ten consumers actively chose a battery electric vehicle, suggesting that the government’s push for EVs is not reflecting consumer demand. He criticizes the government for a ‘government knows best’ attitude. Lilian Greenwood (Lab) counters by highlighting the significant investment by manufacturers in EV technology and dismissing Smith’s claims as ‘nonsense.’ This indicates a disagreement on the demand and popularity of electric vehicles, as well as the government’s approach to promoting them.
2. Disagreement on Funding Models for Rolling Stock:
   • Graham Leadbitter (SNP) raises concerns about the profitability of rolling stock leasing companies and suggests alternative funding models like EUROFIMA or a publicly owned ROSCO. Heidi Alexander (Lab) acknowledges the engagement with EUROFIMA but points out the high cost of buying existing rolling stock, showing a divergence in opinion on how to fund and manage rolling stock purchases.
3. Disagreement on Open Access Railway Services:
   • Wendy Morton (Con) expresses concerns over the apparent pushback against open access agreements and specifically mentions the Wrexham to London Euston line. Heidi Alexander (Lab) clarifies support for the line but highlights the constraints on rail capacity and the need to consider the broader railway network’s performance. This shows a disagreement on the management and priority of open access services.
4. Disagreement on Road Infrastructure Funding and Management:
   • Robbie Moore (Con) raises an issue about unequal spending on highway maintenance by Bradford council, suggesting that the Secretary of State should intervene. Heidi Alexander (Lab) responds by asserting that local authorities should make strategic decisions without central directives. This indicates a disagreement on the role of central government in local authority decision-making around transport infrastructure.
5. Disagreement on Heathrow Airport Expansion:
   • Gareth Bacon (Con) questions the potential rise in Heathrow’s business rates and reaffirms the conservative policy that airport expansion costs should be funded by the private sector. Heidi Alexander (Lab) emphasizes the need to consider expansion proposals based on their merits and balancing growth with environmental considerations. This represents a differing perspective on airport policy and funding.

The disagreements highlighted are significant but contained within specific policy debates rather than pervasive throughout the entire session. This results in a moderate disagreement level, hence the rating of 2 on a scale from 1 to 5.