Following the Secretary of State for Transport's statement to the House of Commons on HS2, Martin took the opportunity to question him on how best the rail freight industry can take advantage of the extra capacity on the existing rail network.
The exchange was as follows:
Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes, Conservative)
"As the Transport Secretary knows, my constituency is a major hub for the rail freight industry. The growth taskforce suggested that the Government should invite the rail freight industry to set out how best it can take advantage of extra capacity on the existing network. Can my right hon. Friend outline what plans he has for this?"
Patrick McLoughlin (The Secretary of State for Transport; Derbyshire Dales, Conservative)
"One thing that is curtailing growth in the freight market in the UK is the capacity problems. I hope that, by freeing up capacity, we will see a lot more freight travelling on our railway lines. I urge the freight industry to come forward with proposals on how we can improve the situation, which I think we can."