Petitions – in the House of Commons at 7:30 pm on 10 January 2007.
Andrew Gwynne
PPS (Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, Minister of State), Home Office
7:30,
10 January 2007
The first of my two petitions concerns Network Rail's proposal to close both Reddish South and Denton stations in my Constituency. A skeleton parliamentary service has operated on the Stockport to Stalybridge line since 1991, with just one train a week in one direction. The petitioners recognise that the current line is financially unviable even if the frequency of trains is increased. However, in view of major bids for transport systems being made for Greater Manchester, they argue that the stations should remain open for use on a new commuter route into Manchester Victoria, serving the city centre.
The Petition of the supporters of the Keep South Reddish Railway Station Open campaign,
Declares that the Network Rail North West Route Utilisation Strategy 2006 proposes the closure of South Reddish and Denton stations on the Stockport to Stalybridge railway line.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Transport to reject the proposal of Network Rail, in order to keep the stations and the Stockport to Stalybridge rail line open for passenger service,
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
