My Lords, I stand humbly in this historic Chamber today. I am humbled by the warm welcome of my fellow Peers and the support of all the officers and staff; I wish to thank each and every one of them. I am truly humbled by the enormity of the honour...

My Lords, I stand humbly in this historic Chamber today. I am humbled by the warm welcome of my fellow Peers and the support of all the officers and staff; I wish to thank each and every one of them. I am truly humbled by the enormity of the honour...

It is a great privilege to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. If I knew what erudite meant, I would try to do it. I congratulate my colleague from Nottinghamshire, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Ben Bradley), on securing this important debate. He raised many important issues, which, as he...

It is a great privilege to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. If I knew what erudite meant, I would try to do it. I congratulate my colleague from Nottinghamshire, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Ben Bradley), on securing this important debate. He raised many important issues, which, as he...

I emphasise to the Minister, and to his civil servants who are listening, that what my hon. Friend says was demonstrated only last week when the

all-party parliamentary group on the east midlands reached cross-party consensus on the importance of the area around Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station and East Midlands airport...

I emphasise to the Minister, and to his civil servants who are listening, that what my hon. Friend says was demonstrated only last week when the

all-party parliamentary group on the east midlands reached cross-party consensus on the importance of the area around Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station and East Midlands airport...

I thank the Minister for the start that he has made to his remarks. It would be of real interest in Nottinghamshire if the Minister could say a little more about what he expects the Government’s policy to be with respect to HS2, given the commitment of the man who...

I thank the Minister for the start that he has made to his remarks. It would be of real interest in Nottinghamshire if the Minister could say a little more about what he expects the Government’s policy to be with respect to HS2, given the commitment of the man who...

The Minister is just about to come to his concluding remarks. As he was speaking, one transport issue did occur to me. We know that it is Government policy to drive towards the end of combustion engines and the provision of more electric cars. In terms of transport in Nottinghamshire...

The Minister is just about to come to his concluding remarks. As he was speaking, one transport issue did occur to me. We know that it is Government policy to drive towards the end of combustion engines and the provision of more electric cars. In terms of transport in Nottinghamshire...

On the point of local services and east-west links, does my hon. Friend recognise that it is not only the big stations but the so-called little stations, such as Burton Joyce, Netherfield and Carlton, that are important commuter stations for people who live in those areas?

On the point of local services and east-west links, does my hon. Friend recognise that it is not only the big stations but the so-called little stations, such as Burton Joyce, Netherfield and Carlton, that are important commuter stations for people who live in those areas?

What steps his Department is taking to reduce transport emissions.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce transport emissions.

The Minister will know that 24% of all emissions are transport related. He will know there are hotspots across the country, including in my constituency, and thousands of people die prematurely as a result of poor air quality, including 61 people in my Gedling constituency. How does he intend to accelerate the progress and policy development he has outlined to us today?

The Minister will know that 24% of all emissions are transport related. He will know there are hotspots across the country, including in my constituency, and thousands of people die prematurely as a result of poor air quality, including 61 people in my Gedling constituency. How does he intend to accelerate the progress and policy development he has outlined to us today?

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has implemented to support victims of slavery found on vessels in British waters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has implemented to support victims of slavery found on vessels in British waters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of rail journey times between Nottingham and Derby as a result of High Speed 2; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of rail journey times between Nottingham and Derby as a result of High Speed 2; and if he will make a statement.

Will the Secretary of State tell us why he is not electrifying the midland main line even though every single business organisation, Member of Parliament and local council is telling him that that is what he should do? Why is he ignoring the wishes of local people and local representatives,...

Will the Secretary of State tell us why he is not electrifying the midland main line even though every single business organisation, Member of Parliament and local council is telling him that that is what he should do? Why is he ignoring the wishes of local people and local representatives,...

I thank the right hon. Lady for bringing this vital debate to the House. Does she share my concern—my constituents and lots of people along the midland main line share it—that the line is the poor relation of the rail network? If the Government have to find savings for investment...

I thank the right hon. Lady for bringing this vital debate to the House. Does she share my concern—my constituents and lots of people along the midland main line share it—that the line is the poor relation of the rail network? If the Government have to find savings for investment...

The Minister has made some interesting comments, particularly about the line from St Pancras to Kettering and Corby. Can he, in a nutshell, tell me and the House what he is saying about the Government’s commitment to investment in the electrification of the line from Kettering and Corby to Sheffield,...

The Minister has made some interesting comments, particularly about the line from St Pancras to Kettering and Corby. Can he, in a nutshell, tell me and the House what he is saying about the Government’s commitment to investment in the electrification of the line from Kettering and Corby to Sheffield,...

And Leicester, of course.

And Leicester, of course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the electrification of the Midland Mainline; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the electrification of the Midland Mainline; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of co-operation between the Irish Coastguard and search and rescue missions in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

[109325]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of co-operation between the Irish Coastguard and search and rescue missions in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

[109325]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with UK search and rescue on the creation of a permanent search and rescue helicopter base in Northern Ireland.

[109326]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with UK search and rescue on the creation of a permanent search and rescue helicopter base in Northern Ireland.

[109326]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has for the electrification of the Midland Mainline between Nottingham and London; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has for the electrification of the Midland Mainline between Nottingham and London; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) police officers and (b) staff in the British Transport Police in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013 and (v) 2014.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) police officers and (b) staff in the British Transport Police in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013 and (v) 2014.

When the right hon. Gentleman speaks to Mr Quarmby, will he make sure that his review looks not only at strategic routes but at the gritting of local and side roads? Last winter, many of my constituents were trapped in their homes. They were told that that was because the...

When the right hon. Gentleman speaks to Mr Quarmby, will he make sure that his review looks not only at strategic routes but at the gritting of local and side roads? Last winter, many of my constituents were trapped in their homes. They were told that that was because the...