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08 Apr
Question
Economic Growth: Transport Infrastructure

The Question session centered on the role of transport infrastructure in boosting economic growth, a topical issue within the UK Parliament, given the government's commitment to improving regional economies.

Detailed Analysis:

  1. Overall Theme:
    • The focus was on forward-looking policy commitments to transport infrastructure, emphasizing enhancements in rail links.
    • Specific local projects, such as the Portishead and Pill railway line, were discussed in terms of their economic impact.
£1.1 billion

Cash increase to the transport budget for 2025-26 compared with 2024-25, representing a 1.5% real-terms increase.

  1. Key Contributions:
    • Sadik Al-Hassan highlighted the local economic benefits expected from the Portishead and Pill railway line, directly linking it to broader strategic objectives.
    • Darren Jones provided details on government plans, confirming increased allocations for transport infrastructure budgets and acknowledging the need for efficient rail links.
    • Martin Vickers brought up concerns over potential economic repercussions if steel production in Scunthorpe were to falter, with transport infrastructure improvements considered a safeguard for economic stability.
    • Gareth Davies questioned government consistency on airport expansions and environmental policies, spotlighting internal party policy conflicts.

Outcome:

  • Darren Jones reiterated the Government's commitment to transport infrastructure as a key driver of economic growth, offering comprehensive reassurances to MPs about regional considerations being factored into national strategy.

Outcome

The session reinforced a commitment to bolstering transport infrastructure as a mechanism for regional economic growth and delivered assurances of sustained infrastructure investment.

Key Contributions

Sadik Al-Hassan
Labour

Emphasized the significance of the Portishead and Pill railway line project for local economic growth, highlighting its alignment with strategic regional objectives.

Darren Jones

Outlined a £1.1 billion increase in the transport budget, noting the project's strategic importance to the West of England and its projected benefits for housing and employment opportunities.

Martin Vickers
Conservative

Expressed concern about the economic impact of potential steel production declines in Scunthorpe, seeking assurances for transport infrastructure improvements as contingency plans.

Gareth Davies
Conservative

Criticized inconsistencies in government airport expansion policies, questioning their implications amidst raised air passenger duties, and sought clarity on future government stances.

Original Transcript
Sadik Al-Hassan
North Somerset
Lab
Question
UIN: 903663

8. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase economic growth through new transport infrastructure.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Darren Jones
12:03

The growth mission is the central mission of this Government. At the Budget, we delivered a £1.1 billion cash increase to the transport budget for 2025-26 compared with 2024-25, representing a 1.5% real-terms increase. We will set out further spending plans for transport in June.

Sadik Al-Hassan

What value does my right hon. Friend expect that the recently announced and much-anticipated Portishead and Pill railway line will add to the local economy of my constituency of North Somerset?

Darren Jones
12:04

First, I congratulate my hon. Friend on his campaigning on this issue. As I represent the neighbouring constituency, I declare that the project may have some indirect benefit for my constituents. I can confirm to the House that the project supports regional and national strategic objectives.

The West of England is the most productive city region outside of London, and it is set to continue to grow.

An efficient and reliable rail link between Bristol and Portishead will support a range of large and small sites for housing and employment across the region, halving journey times and opening a wide range of job and leisure opportunities for the residents of North Somerset.

Martin Vickers
Brigg and Immingham
Con
12:04

If steel production ceases or is curtailed at the Scunthorpe steelworks, there will be a massive impact on the wider economy in northern Lincolnshire. Can the Minister give an assurance that contingency plans, including improvements to transport infrastructure, are in place should the worst happen?

Darren Jones

We recognise how important this issue is for the hon. Member’s constituency, the region and, indeed, the national economy.

My ministerial colleagues in the Department for Business and Trade are in discussions on this particular issue, but in our infrastructure strategy we are considering, as he would expect, the best value for aligning investments between housing, rail, energy and other types of infrastructure to deliver growth for everyone, in every region of the country.

Mr Speaker
12:04

I call the shadow Minister.

Gareth Davies
Grantham and Bourne
Con
12:04

We know that the Energy Secretary is against airport expansion unless it is in Doncaster, and we know that many Labour MPs are against airport expansion unless it is in Pakistan.

To be fair, at least the Chancellor wants airport expansion actually in this country, but at the same time she is jacking up air passenger duty by as much as 16%. Only this Chancellor could be pro-airport, but anti-passenger.

Labour’s Climate Change Committee wants to see air passenger numbers fall by 2030, so I ask the Minister: does he?

Darren Jones

No.

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