On Tuesday 29th November, in the first parliamentary oral questions session following the Autumn Statement, Jo Churchill MP questioned the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP with regards to support for regional infrastructure development.
During the session, Jo Churchill MP raised her concerns:
“I welcome all those measures to boost productivity and particularly, to turn attention to infrastructure and the specifics for the East of England, given yesterday.
But, given the strategic importance of the A14 trunk road - linking Felixstowe Port with Cambridge and the rest of the country- as well as its significance towards 80% of businesses in Suffolk; would [the Minister] agree with me that further improvements to a road [he] knows well - will be vital to productivity?”
Financial Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke MP responded as the relevant Minister:
“My Honourable Friend is right, it is a road I know well and we certainly agree that the A14 is a critically important part of the network. We’re investing £1.5 billion for a major upgrade to cut congestion on the A14 including a new twenty one mile road between Huntingdon and Cambridge and, only yesterday, my Rt Honourable Friend the Transport Secretary was able to go there to witness the start of the work.”
Speaking after the session, Jo Churchill MP said: “The A14 is rightly referred to as the ‘lifeblood’ of the Eastern economy, yet its vitality is more than just about boosting freight business.
The twenty mile stretch of the A14 between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket in my constituency services local business, tourism and leisure. However, several of these intersections are nearing capacity and my constituents tell me of regular tailbacks; turning a fifteen minute car ride into two hour long journey. UK congestion like this, currently costs the country £2 billion a year and, if left unchecked, will halt local growth and expansion, whilst putting further strain on the national economy.
With welcome infrastructure investment announced in last week’s Autumn Statement and, having recently taken over as Chair of the No More A14 Delays campaign, it is my aim to ensure that further and necessary improvements along the rest of the A14 and out to the East, remain in the spotlight. I will continue to pursue the case for the A14, with the Minister.”
Watch my question here http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/aa1622ed-5f5f-4b17-9ca8-71cbb60cde…;