The Budget committed significant funding both for mayoral areas and those not covered by mayoral combined authorities through the local transport fund. Crucially, new powers will be delivered to those areas to ensure they can take back control of their local public transport services. Of course I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this further.

The Budget committed significant funding both for mayoral areas and those not covered by mayoral combined authorities through the local transport fund. Crucially, new powers will be delivered to those areas to ensure they can take back control of their local public transport services. Of course I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this further.

Earlier this year the Prime Minister committed to working with metro mayors on improving rail links between Manchester and Liverpool. Skelmersdale in my constituency is a town of 40,000 people slap-bang between those two great cities and does not have a train station. What measures in the Budget will help support transport links for my constituents, and will the Transport Secretary meet me to discuss rail links and a station train for Skem?

Earlier this year the Prime Minister committed to working with metro mayors on improving rail links between Manchester and Liverpool. Skelmersdale in my constituency is a town of 40,000 people slap-bang between those two great cities and does not have a train station. What measures in the Budget will help support transport links for my constituents, and will the Transport Secretary meet me to discuss rail links and a station train for Skem?

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether there is any mechanism by which the Lancashire justice area management team can seek to reverse the decision to allocate Skelmersdale criminal cases to Wigan Magistrates' Court.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether there is any mechanism by which the Lancashire justice area management team can seek to reverse the decision to allocate Skelmersdale criminal cases to Wigan Magistrates' Court.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons were for his decision to allocate Skelmersdale criminal cases to Wigan Magistrates' Court after the decision to close Ormskirk Magistrates' Court; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons were for his decision to allocate Skelmersdale criminal cases to Wigan Magistrates' Court after the decision to close Ormskirk Magistrates' Court; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has received any representations from senior officials in HM Courts and Tribunals Service seeking to reverse the decision for Skelmersdale criminal cases to be heard at Wigan Magistrates' Court.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has received any representations from senior officials in HM Courts and Tribunals Service seeking to reverse the decision for Skelmersdale criminal cases to be heard at Wigan Magistrates' Court.

As a planning case, that matter is quasi-judicial. Again, I cannot comment on a particular planning application. However, over the next couple of days, I will write to the hon. Lady with some idea of the timeline.

As a planning case, that matter is quasi-judicial. Again, I cannot comment on a particular planning application. However, over the next couple of days, I will write to the hon. Lady with some idea of the timeline.

Having concluded the examination stage of the Whitemoss landfill extension as a nationally significant infrastructure application, will the Secretary of State assure Skelmersdale residents, despite eight broken promises that the site would be closed, that their voices will be given equal consideration to that of the company as he considers the decision on the application, and will he say when he will announce his decision?

Having concluded the examination stage of the Whitemoss landfill extension as a nationally significant infrastructure application, will the Secretary of State assure Skelmersdale residents, despite eight broken promises that the site would be closed, that their voices will be given equal consideration to that of the company as he considers the decision on the application, and will he say when he will announce his decision?

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship today, Mrs Main. I congratulate the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper) on securing this important debate.

I fully accept that the proposed closure of a school can cause great concern among the pupils who attend the school, their parents and...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship today, Mrs Main. I congratulate the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper) on securing this important debate.

I fully accept that the proposed closure of a school can cause great concern among the pupils who attend the school, their parents and...

It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Main, for this debate on the future of education provision in Skelmersdale.

High-quality education unlocks choice and opportunity for our children and young people. We strive for the best education that we can possibly get for them. Skelmersdale is a...

It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Main, for this debate on the future of education provision in Skelmersdale.

High-quality education unlocks choice and opportunity for our children and young people. We strive for the best education that we can possibly get for them. Skelmersdale is a...

I am very happy to look at what the hon. Lady says. What we are seeing are more railway lines opening, more stations opening and more railways being electrified. In the entire period of the last Labour Government, I think they electrified just 13 miles of track—an absolutely pathetic record for a Government who had 13 years to do something about it. We now have the biggest road programme since the 1970s, the biggest rail investment programme since the Victorians and, under this Government, stations, lines and electrification are all taking place.

I am very happy to look at what the hon. Lady says. What we are seeing are more railway lines opening, more stations opening and more railways being electrified. In the entire period of the last Labour Government, I think they electrified just 13 miles of track—an absolutely pathetic record for a Government who had 13 years to do something about it. We now have the biggest road programme since the 1970s, the biggest rail investment programme since the Victorians and, under this Government, stations, lines and electrification are all taking place.

Q12

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Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab):

Skelmersdale in my constituency is the second largest town in the north-west without a railway station—a station that would bring social and economic benefits to the town, as we have heard happened in Shrewsbury. As the Prime Minister is in spending mood, albeit a little bit further south, I wonder whether he could give the people of Skelmersdale an early Christmas present with the promise of a railway station.

Q12

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Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab):

Skelmersdale in my constituency is the second largest town in the north-west without a railway station—a station that would bring social and economic benefits to the town, as we have heard happened in Shrewsbury. As the Prime Minister is in spending mood, albeit a little bit further south, I wonder whether he could give the people of Skelmersdale an early Christmas present with the promise of a railway station.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 11, on television (access), what progress has been achieved in ensuring that residents of Skelmersdale can continue to watch television after the date of digital switchover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 11, on television (access), what progress has been achieved in ensuring that residents of Skelmersdale can continue to watch television after the date of digital switchover.

Adjournment debate on burial law reform with reference to the situation in Skelmersdale.

Adjournment debate on burial law reform with reference to the situation in Skelmersdale.

Will the hon. Lady give way?

Will the hon. Lady give way?

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on an issue of huge importance to families in my constituency. The Minister will know, I am sure, that I am very concerned about the lack of burial provision and have raised the matter regularly with the Ministry of Justice and its...

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on an issue of huge importance to families in my constituency. The Minister will know, I am sure, that I am very concerned about the lack of burial provision and have raised the matter regularly with the Ministry of Justice and its...

I am happy to give permission, Madam Deputy Speaker.

I am happy to give permission, Madam Deputy Speaker.

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. Later in my remarks, he will hear that I have had discussions with local farmers and they are offering their land. The district council should accept the offer and move with it immediately. Although local authorities do not have an obligation, I would strongly...

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. Later in my remarks, he will hear that I have had discussions with local farmers and they are offering their land. The district council should accept the offer and move with it immediately. Although local authorities do not have an obligation, I would strongly...

I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and the hon. Lady. She and I serve together on the all-party funerals and bereavement group where she has raised this issue, in which I declare an interest. Does she recognise that many farmers have responded to the demand for green burials by setting...

I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and the hon. Lady. She and I serve together on the all-party funerals and bereavement group where she has raised this issue, in which I declare an interest. Does she recognise that many farmers have responded to the demand for green burials by setting...