Oral QuestionDepartment for Business and Trade

What steps she is taking to encourage businesses to open outlets on high streets.

Tabled: 23 November 2023Answered: 30 November 2023

Asked by

Alistair Strathern

LabourHitchin

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Business and Trade

Answer from Hansard

The Secretary of State for Transport (Heidi Alexander)

The King’s Speech promised to change the country for the better, and this Government are getting on with the job. Yesterday we completed the passage of the Railways Bill through this place, paving the way for Great British Railways and an industry that finally works for passengers instead of profit. We have already seen new trains on South Western Railway and more capacity on LNER, and the first GBR-branded trains are now in service. More than half of train operating companies are now in public ownership and are performing better, on average, than those still in private hands. [ Interruption. ] That is just one part of how we are transforming journeys. Tomorrow I am launching the third cycling and walking investment strategy, building on the investment already announced, to enable more people to make safe and healthy choices to get around. We are progressing legislation— [ Interruption. ]