Speeches by Mayer.

“Is there nothing different about the way you might, I don’t know, put back a road where something had gone a bit wrong?”

“RIS3 says that National Highways will support industry to accelerate the rollout of EV charging infrastructure. Can you talk us through what that is going to look like in practice?”

“The Government have recently published “Better Connected: A Strategy for Integrated Transport”. What do you see National Highways’ role as in terms of building a more integrated transport system?”

“Are all of your renewals like for like?”

“Why are there no targets, even if it was a target with a range?”

“What contributions do you think a renewals heavy programme can make for additional capacity?”

“Can we think about how people’s emotions and how they feel about doing this? I am interested in what features of a transport system most strongly affect people’s sense of simplicity and confidence in public transport options. For example, I have seen a study whereby, when you are waiting at the bus stop, your sense of …”

“Can I ask briefly about language? Maybe it is just me, but I understand the concept of a station and a bus stop, yet there seem to be a lot of new words that are used to describe precisely that. Does that confuse passengers other than me? Is there any sense that calling it something familiar builds confidence? It is ju…”

“Exactly, I do not think most people have the faintest idea what it is.”

“Chris, MaaS apps have come up in some of our previous evidence sessions. You were describing one for a distinct geographical area. Is there a danger that there is just going to be a plethora of random MaaS apps that do not remotely add up to a joined-up journey, because people cross borders?”

“The clocks change this weekend, and at a stroke we will have light in the evenings. We could have light at evenings all year round if we adopted Churchill time; it would also cut bills, reduce road traffic accidents and boost the hospitality industry. Given that this is a cross-departmental issue, how can I best get tr…”

“I am always pleased to speak in debates about transport. I want to paint a picture for the Minister of Leighton Buzzard station—he is, of course, welcome to visit too. There are two lifts, which is fantastic, and I do not knock those lifts at all, because I know that many people want them. At the moment, a person can w…”

“Do you detect that there is any plan from Government for the coach sector?”

“You are presumably pleased that the zero-emission HGV and coach infrastructure strategy puts HGVs and coaches together. Is there anything specific you would like to see in that strategy?”

“Is education something you think the Government should do?”

“Are there any other practical things that the Government could be doing?”

“Looking specifically at coaches again, they sometimes have very different roles throughout their lifespan, perhaps starting with more premium work and then, right at the end, being a school bus or maybe a rail-replacement bus. To what extent do you think we have policies in place that take into account the fact that it…”

“It is a very quick one that has just occurred to me while you have been talking. You have been talking a lot about sharing facilities at depots. Is that happening organically, or should Government grants perhaps be incentivising it so that you only get your grant if you agree to share those facilities?”

“Midway through our inquiry, President Trump started a war in Iran. That has obviously caused petrol prices at the pumps to rise considerably. Has that already changed the comparative running costs between EV cars and petrol cars, and are there any early signs it is changing public perception?”

“Sorry to interrupt, but is that because you lack control? That is what Transport for West Midlands said in its evidence to us.”