§ Q7. [79139] Mr. David Taylor (North-West Leicestershire)When he next expects to visit the new national forest.
§ The Deputy Prime Ministerrose—
§ The Deputy Prime MinisterThere are different ways of doing it at different times; it is the way I tell them. Just hang on. The answer is: my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has no immediate plans to do so.
§ Mr. TaylorI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that the first new national forest for several centuries, covering 200 square miles and several parliamentary constituencies, has been an astonishing success, but for it to be genuinely environmentally sustainable, passenger rail services need to be returned to the national forest line between Leicester and Burton? Can my right hon. Friend confirm that the integrated transport strategy was designed to encourage just such projects? When he visits the area, will he reassure the 200,000 people who live there that the Government cavalry can ride to the rescue of the scheme, which is rapidly becoming becalmed in a quagmire created by Tory privatisation?
§ The Deputy Prime MinisterMay I apologise for causing some confusion at the beginning of the question? I thought that you said that it was Question 7, Madam Speaker; now I understand that it is Question 6.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The right hon. Gentleman is in perfect order. It is Question 7.
§ The Deputy Prime MinisterThere was a change to or the removal of a question, so I thought this was Question 6. I apologise to you, Madam Speaker, and to the House.
My hon. Friend asked how we could improve the railway service in the area. Without doubt, we want improvements in the railways and in access to the wonderful countryside. Rail routes that have been discontinued or are not properly used are being reviewed by the Strategic Rail Authority, which started business on 1 April. We believe that it will improve access to the industry and to those beautiful areas—[Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. If the House would come to order and hon. Members would read their Order Papers, they would know which question was being answered—[Interruption.] No; hon. Members should read the Order Paper. This is a substantive question.