Simon Lightwood MP: speeches 2025

Speeches

• 9 Jan 2025 · Rail Passenger Compensation · Hansard source

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  The Rail Minister has met MPs from both sides of the House to discuss this issue and has attended an industry programme board to ensure that passenger interests are considered and that disruption is minimised for passengers, both during and after construction.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Rail Passenger Compensation · Hansard source

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  The Department continues to work closely with the rail industry to minimise the disruption to passengers on the great western main line during the new station’s construction and operation. Our priority is to mitigate the impact on passengers, as far as possible, by investing £30 million for service continuity during periods of disruption.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  Conservative Members had no plans or funding put aside to continue with the bus fare cap beyond 2024. We have secured £151 million to ensure that buses remain affordable for many. In some areas, without that intervention fares could have risen by as much as 80%.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for his question. A total of £1 billion was announced in the Budget for bus services, which will be available to his local transport authority to invest in areas, including rural areas, to ensure that bus services are accessible, regular and affordable.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  We know how important local bus services are to communities. Our reforms of the bus sector, combined with £1 billion of investment, will ensure that local leaders have the necessary tools to ensure that bus services truly reflect the needs of passengers.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  Buses are of course the most commonly used mode of public transport in Britain, and the lifeblood of our communities. I will be more than happy to meet the hon. Member.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  The hon. Member will be aware that close to £100 million was announced in the recent Budget. We will work closely with Active Travel England to ensure that that money is put to good effect across the country.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I can assure him that the report will be released in due course.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Public Transport Accessibility · Hansard source

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  We are working with industry to deliver a transport network that puts passengers and their needs at its heart. The new aviation accessibility task and finish group, for example, brings together industry and consumer advocates with first-hand experience to improve accessibility in air travel. The Government will take advantage of the benefits of a unified rail network to deliver a more reliable and consistent customer experience for everyone with accessibility needs, and our buses Bill will make bus travel more accessible and inclusive, including by extending the requirements for relevant bus staff to undertake disability training.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Public Transport Accessibility · Hansard source

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  I can assure the hon. Lady that I will raise this issue with the Rail Minister. I am quite confident that he has had these discussions with the devolved Governments.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Public Transport Accessibility · Hansard source

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  I can assure the hon. Member that as soon as I am in a position to do so, I will give him more information on the Access for All programme.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Public Transport Accessibility · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is a formidable advocate for this, having raised it numerous times. The Rail Minister is carefully considering the decisions made by the previous Government in relation to the Access for All programme. My hon. Friend will be aware that Leagrave was one of 50 stations across Britain selected by the previous Government for further consideration of whether they could be made step-free between the entrance and all platforms. We will shortly update the House on our approach to Access for All, but let me assure her that we are committed to improving the accessibility of the rail network, recognising the social and economic benefits that that brings.

• 9 Jan 2025 · Public Transport Accessibility · Hansard source

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  We want a transport system for everyone, in which accessibility is designed as standard across the network so that we can make it easier for people to get on and off services, and build a safe and more secure network, particularly for women and girls. It is the Government’s ambition for disabled people to have equal access to transport, recognising the needs of people with visible and less visible conditions, and I would be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend.