Thursday Volume 647 11 October 2018 No. 187 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 11 October 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 261 11 OCTOBER 2018 262 Chris Grayling: I have indeed discussed, on more House of Commons than one occasion, both Brexit and new generation automotive technology with the chief executive of Jaguar Thursday 11 October 2018 Land Rover. I am very excited about what it is doing on electric vehicles, and I assure the hon. Gentleman that I know of no reason why it would pull back on that The House met at half-past Nine o’clock investment. Indeed, I am looking forward to the Government Car Service taking delivery of its first five PRAYERS electric vehicles from Jaguar Land Rover in the next few days. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): Does the Secretary of State agree that in areas where inadequate power is BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS available in the grid for large commercial installations wishing to switch over to electric power, a battery MIDDLE LEVEL BILL solution, provided by companies such as Off Grid Motion made, That the Lords amendments be now Energy Ltd in my constituency, may be the answer? considered. Hon. Members: Object. Chris Grayling: We are on the threshold of exciting developments in battery technology—I absolutely agree Lords amendments to be considered on Tuesday 16 October with my hon. Friend. We are working with National at 4 pm. Grid to look at ways in which we can increase the capacity to key locations such as motorway service areas, but I say to him that battery technology is going Oral Answers to Questions to deliver some solutions we do not have at present. It is great to see businesses in the UK at the forefront of developing those technologies. TRANSPORT Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield South East) (Lab): Does the Secretary of State see any contradiction between the The Secretary of State was asked— policy of trying to move motorists away from petrol Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles, and freezing fuel duty while cutting grants for electric vehicles? 1. Luke Graham (Ochil and South Perthshire) (Con): What steps his Department is taking to improve the Chris Grayling: We are focusing our support on electric availability of electric vehicle infrastructure. [906912] vehicles, which are the part of the market we want to see grow the fastest. We provide substantial incentives to The Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Grayling): buyers of electric vehicles. It was great to see that, in As Members will be aware, earlier this summer we August, 12% of the new car market was low-emission published our Road to Zero strategy, setting out plans vehicles, which is a big step forward for this country. for our £400 million charging infrastructure investment fund. We now have more than 14,000 public charge Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): Carbon points, and the fund will lead to the installation of emissions in Scotland have been halved since 1990, but thousands more. Importantly, we are also planning to the next part of the low-carbon transition is the consult on introducing a requirement for charge points electrification of Scotland’s roads. The Scottish National in new homes in England, and we want all new lampposts party Government have committed to 1,500 new charge to include charge points, where appropriate. points. Does the Secretary of State agree that Scotland needs to get its fair share of the £400 million charge Luke Graham: In my constituency, we are getting to fund, based on our rural nature and unique geography? the end of the signing of the Tay cities deal, part of which includes a proposal for an innovation highway. Chris Grayling: As the hon. Gentleman knows, public Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss that spending in England is always matched by a Barnett-based highway,which will form part of Perth West development? element of public spending in Scotland, and that will continue to be the case. Chris Grayling: I am happy to do that. I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government is actively engaged Alan Brown: That answer is completely inadequate. in preparing the deal. I am pleased at the way my hon. We should not be getting such funding based on Barnett. Friend is championing the future of technology in Scotland has two thirds of the land mass of England but transport in his constituency, and I would be delighted got only a fifth of the broadband funding. Will the Secretary to meet him to discuss it. of State make sure this iniquitous position does not happen in respect of the £400 million charging fund? Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): Has the Secretary of State had any discussions with Jaguar Chris Grayling: This is a bit of a groundhog day, Land Rover, which is concerned about Brexit at the because every time we hear SNP Members talking moment, meaning that there could be a hold-up in about the finances of Scotland, if Barnett works in their investment in electric vehicles? favour, they are happy to say that they insist on having 263 Oral Answers 11 OCTOBER 2018 Oral Answers 264 Barnett, but if they want more than that, they say Leaving the EU: Perishable Scottish Food Barnett is not good enough. They cannot have it both ways. 3. Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): What discussions he has had with the Traffic Congestion: A120 Scottish Government on the transportation of perishable Scottish food abroad after the UK leaves the EU. 2. James Cleverly (Braintree) (Con): What steps his [906914] Department is taking to reduce congestion on the A120. [906913] The Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Grayling): My Department has regular discussions with Scottish The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Government officials and has discussed this issue with (Jesse Norman): As my hon. Friend will know, the them. We are well aware of the importance of rapid Department has provided up to £4 million of funding transit for perishable goods. I should reiterate that we to Essex County Council to support the development of are of course committed to securing a deal that works proposals for improvements to the A120 between Braintree for the entire United Kingdom—Wales,Scotland, Northern and Colchester. The council consulted on options last Ireland and England. Having thought back to events year and announced its favoured route in June 2018. earlier this summer, I should also say that the biggest My Department is now considering whether or not to conduit for perishable Scottish produce is of course include the scheme in the next road investment strategy, Heathrow airport, from where Scottish smoked salmon which will be published next year. is carried around the world. That makes it all the more sad that the Scottish National party chose to vote James Cleverly: The Minister will be aware that the against the expansion of Heathrow, which will be good A120 around Braintree is a road so heavily and regularly for Scotland. congested that my constituents regularly cut through Braintree to bypass the bypass. We welcome the money Jamie Stone: I thank the Secretary of State for his for the preferred route option, but will the Minister answer, which was interesting and helpful. It is obvious ensure that he will also consider any interim measure to that most Scottish perishable food products have to relieve congestion? pass through England to reach the export markets. Does the Secretary of State agree that it would be best if Jesse Norman: Aware, Mr Speaker? How could I not all the laws in Scotland and in the rest of the UK that be aware? My hon. Friend has been indefatigable; in might affect the movement and export of such products fact, few parliamentarians in any Parliament could have were brought into harmonisation? Any misalignment of matched his energy and zeal in pressing the case for the laws would be unhelpful to the export of Scottish food A120. He has been terrier-like in his lobbying, and he products. Will he press this matter with the Scottish can take it from me that the Minister has been duly Government whenever he can? terrierised. Chris Grayling: I am slightly puzzled, because the Mr Speaker: I hope that the hon. Gentleman will harmonisation of laws would imply backing away from have that tribute framed and erected in a suitable location devolution. The reality is that in a devolved settlement, in his home. We look forward to an update on that in as we have with Scotland, there will always be some due course. differences. Nevertheless, we and the Scottish Government must always work together in the interests of the whole Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con) rose— United Kingdom and of producers throughout the whole United Kingdom. Mr Speaker: I am not sure how this matter relates to Northamptonshire, but I have a feeling that the hon. Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): Air Gentleman is about to explain. transport is obviously vital for Scottish food producers, as it is for businesses and people throughout the UK. In October 2016, the Secretary of State told the Transport Mr Bone: Mr Speaker, to get to the A120 in Braintree, Committee that future aviation arrangements would which a lot of my constituents want to do, they have to form part of the Brexit negotiations go down the A509, which is even more congested.