Cycling and Walking

Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 23 February 2017.

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Photo of Margaret Greenwood Margaret Greenwood Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions) 12:00, 23 February 2017

When he plans to publish the Government’s cycling and walking investment strategy.

Photo of Andrew Jones Andrew Jones Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We will publish the strategy shortly, but I am not able to specify a precise date yet.

Photo of Margaret Greenwood Margaret Greenwood Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)

The Wirral Way in my constituency is a beautiful path that is popular with cyclists and walkers for the expansive views it gives over the Dee estuary, and, of course, the fresh air it affords and the internationally renowned bird life. The Government have committed more than £15 billion over five years for their roads investment strategy, but just £316 million for their draft cycling and walking investment strategy. What more will the Government do to increase cycling and walking in the United Kingdom?

Photo of Andrew Jones Andrew Jones Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We will publish our strategy shortly, but let me correct the hon. Lady. We are spending approximately 2% of the Department’s total budget in this Parliament on cycling, which amounts to just under £1 billion out of a total budget of around £50 billion. We want to make cycling and walking the default choice for shorter journeys, and I recognise all the hon. Lady’s points about the very pleasant area that she represents.

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I notice that the £50 billion and £1 billion are over an unspecified period. I suspect that the Department for Transport are living in a parallel universe where time runs at a different rate to the rest of us, which is why the mythical Cycling and Walking strategy are...

Submitted by Chris Beazer Continue reading

Photo of Daniel Zeichner Daniel Zeichner Shadow Minister (Transport)

That was an extraordinary answer from the Minister because at Transport questions six weeks ago, the Secretary of State told us that we would not have long to wait for CWIS, but it is almost a year since the consultation was launched. The Department seems to have a problem with lateness: the Bus Services Bill—late; CWIS—late; taxi regulation—who knows?; and private parking measures—more than a year late. Will the Secretary of State tell us how many people in the Department are working on CWIS and give us a firm date—or is it just the Department for being late?

Photo of Andrew Jones Andrew Jones Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

That question did not quite capture the hon. Gentleman’s customary generosity at the Dispatch Box. It is clearly a load of nonsense. The Government are investing more in transport than any other Government in British history. Publication of the strategy is slightly delayed because so many people have responded to the consultation, which we will go through very shortly. The strategy is near publication and I will let the hon. Gentleman know exactly when we will publish it shortly.