Speeches by Aquarone.

“Are the outcome frameworks at the end of a particular project?”

“Minister, when are you going to start to tell us what is in your dashboard and what the numbers are telling you, and what sort of timescales are we talking about for some of these outcomes to be achieved?”

“Ticketing is great, but this is an integrated transport strategy, not the integrated ticketing strategy. Don’t get me wrong: we all see the huge benefit of simplified ticketing, but are there any other aspects of material difference where you, Conrad or Ben, feel you can say to someone, “In the future, this is what it …”

“Flood Re does need change. However, the Minister has not announced a key change that would make a difference for thousands of households in my North Norfolk constituency: establishing a “Coast Re” scheme for those homes at threat of erosion. They find themselves at huge risk and have no financial backing if the worst h…”

“Might I gently suggest that it would be easier for colleagues to understand the Government’s conclusions on this advice if we were able to see it? Would the Minister consider placing a copy in the House of Commons Library, along with the two surveys that I believe were undertaken?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alec. I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) on securing this debate. He truly is a champion that coastal communities like mine can rely on to stand up for them. In terms of miles of coastline per square mile of const…”

“1. What estimate he has made of the number of unemployed young people.”

“The Transport Committee’s “Buses connecting communities” inquiry heard about the significant impact that public transport connectivity has on unemployment. That is especially the case for young people in North Norfolk. It is a vicious cycle: poor connectivity creates poor prospects, and young people leave to start thei…”

“I am sure we will pick up on these topics. Can I just come to Dan? Let’s focus perhaps on the potential gains of looking at severity rather than just frequency. Do we need a different approach to infrastructure in rural areas?”

“Just for Martin’s reassurance, it is clear that the biggest issue is funding constraints on local authority schemes. Sarah, what you have done is open up the discussion about the funding to other objectives within transport, which is extremely welcome.”

“Thank you for bringing us back to the topic of rurality. Kate, does the infrastructure response need to be adjusted for rural road schemes, and do we need to shut some rural D roads? Not everybody needs four different routes to their remote property, do they?”

“We have seen improvements in braking distance over the last few years, which is about to be eroded by heavier vehicles. That is a whole other topic area.”

“I have tried to do my bit to try to explain this, but it is also the case that people feel like perceived safety does not factor into those decisions, and that may be causing changes of behaviour if it is not factored into the wider programme.”

“I do not think any of my constituents are complaining about the road safety improvements that happen; it is the ones that do not. Sarah, if I were to say that I would accept that if you are looking at one trunk road or network, but is that sufficient for rural roads?”

“Politicians queuing up to cut the ribbon does not help. Can I just check what I understood? You said that adversity is a function of the square root of speed. Is that adversity or the impact of the crash is a function of the square root of speed?”

“On-farm reservoirs can really help to reduce flooding and the need for water extraction, yet the Minister for Housing and Planning was rather dismissive of this during the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Will the Secretary of State commit to taking steps to review permitted development rights, and can …”

“My hon. Friend knows well about the issues of coastal erosion on the north Norfolk coast and the existential threat to communities such as Trimingham and Happisburgh. There is hard work being done by our local authorities and our Lib Dem councils through schemes such as Coastwise, and there is much more to do in the fu…”

“I am an expert by virtue of the number of people I speak to about it and their challenges. I am interested in your views about what makes rural routes a distinct challenge, bearing in mind that rural roads are not all the same. On the issue of resource allocation, notwithstanding local government financial constraints,…”

“I have noticed that.”

“I was deeply saddened last week to receive from the Minister the news that Corpusty school will close from September. Across North Norfolk there are small rural schools just like Corpusty, and they are worried that they might be next to face closure. The Department for Education’s research and guidance about running a …”