Cornwall and Isles of Scilly: Transport Needs

Andrew George, the Member of Parliament for St Ives, asked the Government if it would meet with authorities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to discuss their transport needs. In response, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Mike Kane, stated that the Government is working to improve transport provision across the country and has announced five strategic transport priorities to enhance local transport performance and increase usage. He added that officials will continue to engage with local transport authorities in the South-West to discuss their aspirations. Mr. George then highlighted several other challenges that have emerged since the general election, including concerns about expensive school transport, risk-free investment in Cornwall, and the need for parity with Scotland and the English mainland in terms of lifeline links and inter-island transport on the Isles of Scilly. He requested that the Minister meet with local MPs, as these issues have become increasingly serious. In response, Mr. Kane acknowledged that air and sea services on the Isles of Scilly are operated commercially without public subsidy, but stated that the Department has provided support, particularly during the pandemic. He also said that the Department's officials are committed to regular engagement with the local council to explore ways to improve travel provision on the islands. Ruth Cadbury, the Chair of the Select Committee, then intervened, welcoming the Government's bus reforms but noting that rural areas like Cornwall have perhaps the poorest bus services in England, with less well-developed partnerships than urban areas like Greater Manchester. She asked what plans the Government has to ensure that rural areas can benefit from better bus services, as cities will following the reforms. Mr. Kane acknowledged that rural communities face different challenges, but stated that the Government's better buses bill will enable local authorities to take back control of buses and improve services where they wish to do so.