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NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 27 December 1924

27 DECEMBER 1924

Mr Gandhi, in his presidential address to the Indian National Congress at Belgaum, Bengal, outlined a scheme of Swaraj or Home Rule. He said that the Congress must find a remedy to demonstrate both to the Government and the revolutionaries that there was a more effective force than violence.

The Conference of Ambassadors will meet in Paris to-day to consider the report on the disarmament of Germany, and to determine the procedure to be followed in notifying the Reich that the Cologne zone will not be evacuated on January 10.

According to a Washington telegram, President Coolidge resents recent speeches by M. Jusserand, the French Ambassador, in which he pleaded for leniency for France in regard to payment of her debt to the United States.

A Belgrade telegram states that the Albanian revolution has terminated in a success for the insurgents under Ahmed Beg.

It is reported that negotiations are on foot for a Balkan Triple Alliance (Greece, Jugo- Slavia, and Rumania.)

In the French Chamber, it was stated that a “national carburant” as a substitute for petrol had already reached the stage of practical usefulness. Military vehicles use a mixture of which alcohol forms 50 per cent.

The Canadian Government have issued a new order in regard to freight rates on the Canadian railways.

Through the bursting of a dam in a Virginian town 23 persons were drowned.

Bandits derailed a passenger train in Mexico, killing a woman and six soldier guards.

In an affray at Cologne on Christmas Eve a gunner of the Royal Artillery was stabbed.

December 29, 2024
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 26 December 1924

26 DECEMBER 1924

A meeting of the French Cabinet approved a memorandum from M. Herriot expressing the opinion that it was impossible to evacuate the Cologne zone by January 10.

The Paris Eclair publishes an account of M. Herriot’s conversations with Mr Ramsay MacDonald at Chequers in the summer, when the French Premier emphasised the dangers which threatened France on her eastern frontier.

Mr Bruce, the Australian Prime Minister, has informed the Imperial Government that it would be difficult for him to attend a special meeting of the Imperial Conference in March to discuss the Geneva Protocol, and he has suggested that the matter could be settled by cable. A similar view is understood to be held by the Canadian Government.

A fire broke out at a Christmas entertain- ment in a school at Hobart, Oklahoma, U.S.A., and 40 persons lost their lives.

A terrible air disaster occurred near the Croydon Aerodrome. The Instone air liner DH 34 had just left with seven passengers and the pilot on board, when it was seen to be in difficulties, and then it crashed. On reaching the ground it burst into flames, and everyone on board perished.

In an American aviation accident four men of the Naval Air Service lost their lives.

M. Otto Ballon, a well-known Latvian air- man, has been killed at Buenos Ayres.

The Pope, amid scenes of solemnity and splendour, opened the Holy Door of St Peter’s, Rome, to signify the opening of the Holy Year.

On January 1, Oslo, the ancient name of Christiania, is to be revived.

December 29, 2024
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 25 December 1924

25 DECEMBER 1924

Many spectators were injured following a football game between Bristol City and Swansea Town played on Christmas Day.

The Dundee Evening Telegraph reported:

“Mr F. G. Linfield, the former Liberal M.P., who has returned to London after a tour in Africa extending over several months, described his jungle adventure with a lion.

Mr. Linfield, Mr. Ormsby Gore, and Major Church were appointed by Mr. J. H. Thomas, when Colonial Secretary, as a Colonial Office Mission to make inquiries in Central Africa. While they were there the General Election intervened. They were unable to return in time, and of the three who left Britain M.P.’s only one, Mr Ormsby Gore, came back to find himself re-elected. Mr Linfield’s adventure with the lion occurred after he had ascended a mountain in company with Lord Delamere and was returning in order to secure help to release Lord Delamere’s car from a dangerous position.

Concealed Behind a Bush

“While we were ascending in the car,” he said, “rain came on, and the car skidded all over the place. There were no roads, and at one point one of the wheels went over, and the car was on the point of toppling over. Major Buxton, Major Dutton, and myself got out and tried to push the car to keep it from toppling over the side, but at one point one of the wheels went over, and the car had to be abandoned. Major Buxton and I walked for nine miles to the nearest farm to get help. As we were walking along I saw under a little bush a foot or two away from me a black object. I was not thinking of Africa, and imagined it was like a pig. Before I could say a word it jumped up, just looked at me, and then bounded into the dense bush. Major Buxton walked over to where the lion had disappeared, but I told him to be careful as there might be cubs there. He said, ‘The best thing we can do is to walk straight on. Probably the lion is as much frightened of us as we are of it.’ So we walked on, keeping as far as possible from the dense bush. I kept one eye on the bush and another on the nearest tree.”

Lion’s Skull as a Reminder.

On another occasion,” he said, “I stepped out of the rest house in which I was staying one night because I could not sleep on account of the high temperature. I had just opened the door and stepped into the garden when there was a tremendous growl. I went back into the house at once. Next morning I was informed that two or three hyenas had been prowling about the grounds.”

Mr Linfield has brought back a large number of trophies and mementoes of his visit. These include swords, spears, and shields, a beautiful lion’s skin, and the skull of another lion. The lion’s skin his colleagues decided ought to be presented to him because of his adventure.”

December 29, 2024
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 24 December 1924

24 DECEMBER 1924

The Government is sounding the Dominions and India will, according to the Times, be represented at a conference in March to discuss the questions arising out of the Geneva Protocol. Germany has notified the League of Nations that in the event of entry into the League she could not accept responsibilities under Article 10 of the Covenant.

The increasing hostility of the Russian peasants to Communism has caused the Moscow authorities to summon a conference for the revision of Soviet institutions.

The Egyptian Parliament has been dissolved by decree of King Fuad, and new elections will take place in February.

After several days’ hard fighting Scutari and Alessio have fallen into the hands of the insurgents in Albania.

The Ministry of Transport announces that the highway authorities of the country have been invited to collaborate with the Ministry in the modernisation of certain limited lines of national communication, and that the number of principal routes selected is main road schemes contemplated include a new high level bridge over the Tyne and a new crossing of the Tweed at Berwick.

Sir John Gilmour, M.P., Secretary for Scotland, was among the speakers at a “Come to Britain” dinner in London last night. Replying to the toast of “The Trade of the People,” he expressed the hope that the housing problem, the Scottish herring industry, and agriculture in the co-operation of Government, and employers in the building trade workers would have the co-operation of the Government and employers in the building of houses.

Sir James Craig, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, in a Christmas message to the people of Ulster, says he is convinced that united action on the part of all in the return to stabilised conditions in Europe will eventually put the coping stone on the prosperity of the Imperial Province.

December 29, 2024
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 23 December 1924

23 DECEMBER 1924

Thomas Johnston, the Socialist candidate in the by-election at Dundee, had a majority of 12,739 over Mr E. D. Simon (Liberal).

In a letter to Mr Austen Chamberlain, M. Rakovsky refers to a statement in the House of Commons by the Home Secretary on December 10 to the effect that proofs of the authenticity of Zinoviev letter cannot be disclosed out of fear for the safety of the person who supplied Britain with the document, and adds that the Soviet Government “is prepared to guarantee the unhindered departure of the above-mentioned person” from its territory.

The Turkish Government has warned the Soviet that if the attempts to renew Communist propaganda activity in Turkey do not cease, they will expel and deport the majority of the Russian officials attached to the Soviet diplomatic and trade missions. The Soviet envoy, Suritz, was informed that the Turkish authorities have at their disposal incontestable evidence of anti-French and anti-British propaganda in Syria and Egypt conducted by Russian agents with headquarters in Constantinople.

The German Government’s Note to the League of Nations on the question of Germany’s admission to the League refers to the dangers with which a disarmed Germany is confronted, and to the difficulties resulting from the disparity in national armaments in Europe.

From Washington it is reported that President Coolidge opposes elevation of ships’ guns, regarding it as futile to spend money on battleships which are likely to be scrapped after twelve years.

Martial law is reported to have been extended to the whole of Albania in consequence of the lack of response to the recent mobilisation order.

December 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Rogue employers will be banned from hiring overseas workers [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 November 2024.

Shameless employers who commit serious offences will be banned from hiring overseas workers as part of a government crackdown on visa abuse and prevent exploitation.

Delivering on a key manifesto commitment, businesses that repeatedly flout visa rules or commit serious employment breaches, such as not paying the National Minimum Wage, will be barred from hiring overseas workers.

Currently, employers who flagrantly flout visa rules can only be sanctioned for a maximum of 12 months. Under our changes we intend the period for repeat offences to be at least 2 years, double the current length, with final cooling off periods announced in due course.

This government will also not wait until employers have committed serious breaches of the law before taking action, when there are already signs of rule breaking. Action plans bind businesses who commit minor visa breaches to a set of specific actions to help them improve and correct any issues. These are being strengthened further, with the maximum time they can be applied quadrupled from 3 to 12 months, ensuring long-term and sustained compliance with visa rules.

The measures are part of wider efforts to tackle the root causes behind the UK’s long-term reliance on international workers and action to link migration policy with skills and wider labour market policy.

The wide-ranging crackdown will also protect vulnerable workers from exploitation, prohibiting unprincipled companies from engaging in the unethical practice of charging skilled workers for the cost of sponsorship. These costs, which can be passed onto workers at grossly inflated levels, has led to the exploitation and unfair treatment of staff, particularly within the care sector, in some cases burdened with unsustainable levels of debt to their employers.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra MP said:

We committed in our manifesto to do everything in our power to ensure those who abuse our immigration system face the strongest possible consequences.

No longer will employers be able to flout the rules with little consequence or exploit international workers for costs they were always supposed to pay if they choose not to recruit domestically.

Worker exploitation is completely unacceptable. Shamefully, these practices have been seen particularly in our care sector, where workers coming to the UK to support our health and social care service have all too often found themselves plunged into unjustifiable insecurity and debt. This can, and must, end.

The new powers will ensure employers who recruit internationally will be required to pay associated costs themselves, which is fair and reasonable for employers that do not recruit from the domestic workforce.

While the longer action plans are in place, employers will face restrictions on their ability to bring in overseas workers. Failure to comply or make the necessary improvements will see their visa sponsor licence revoked.

These changes will be made alongside the government’s new Employments Rights Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. Under the bill, the newly-established Fair Work Agency will bring together existing state enforcement functions including regulations for employment agencies and employment businesses, enforcement of the National Minimum Wage, Statutory Sick Pay and the licensing regime for businesses operating as ‘gangmasters’ in certain sectors.

Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said:

Migrant workers are a valuable part of our social care workforce, supporting vulnerable people across the country every day. Many have travelled to the UK with the promise of a rewarding and fulfilling career.

However, there has been an unacceptable rise in the exploitation and abuse of overseas social care workers from rogue operators.

Cracking down on these unethical employers will protect migrant workers from unacceptable and shameful exploitation.

This new crackdown also forms part of the government’s wider action to target rogue employers who abuse the immigration system by exploiting vulnerable migrants who are working in the UK illegally. This government is determined to clamp down on illegal working and the exploitative treatment of illegal workers, and we have rapidly expanded the action we are taking. A range of sanctions will be taken against those employing illegal workers, including:
- financial penalty notices
- business closure orders
- potential prosecution
We have delivered a major surge in Immigration Enforcement’s targeted visits to rogue businesses suspected of employing illegal workers, with 856 visits in October alone – a 55% increase on the same month last year. Between January and October this year, more than 6,600 visits have been made, and 22% increase on the same period last year, with over 4,600 arrests being made, up 21% on last year.

International care workers are particularly vulnerable to abuse, with widespread concerns of exploitation in the sector. The Department of Health and Social Care has already been working closely with the Home Office to share concerns and intelligence on bad practices in the recruitment and employment of overseas care workers, and the measures announced today will further bolster the government’s action against exploitation.

Since July 2022, the government has revoked approximately 450 sponsor licences in the care sector as the government continues to clamp down on abuse. Significant work is ongoing across government, in collaboration with the care sector, to ensure high standards across the immigration system, and to support care workers into alternative jobs when their sponsor has had their licence removed.

Fifteen regional partnerships in England have received £16 million worth of funding to support them to prevent and respond to unethical international recruitment practices in the sector. This includes funding support for international care workers to understand their rights and establishing operational processes with regional partnerships to support individuals to switch employers and remain working in the care sector when they have been impacted by their sponsor’s licence being revoked.
December 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Israeli-Palestinian correspondent banking services – E3 foreign ministers’ joint statement [November 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 November 2024.

E3 foreign ministers renew calls for the urgent extension of reciprocal banking arrangements by at least 12 months to prevent economic collapse in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Foreign ministers’ statement:

The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France and Germany are deeply concerned that Israel has yet to provide assurances it will extend the indemnifications for essential correspondent banking relationships between Israeli and Palestinian banks for a minimum period of at least 12 months.

On October 31, the Israeli government renewed its indemnifications of Israeli banks for 30 days, the shortest extension to date. This disappointing decision prolongs uncertainty and endangers the Palestinian economy. Cutting off these banking ties, which Israel has a clear duty under the Paris Protocol to maintain, would create significant economic turmoil in the West Bank, jeopardising the security of Israel and the wider region.

There is no technical basis on which to withhold a year-long extension. We are fully satisfied that the Palestinian Authority has taken significant steps to counter the risks of terror financing, and that financial institutions within the West Bank maintain adequate controls to manage these risks. The issue of cross-border payments must not be leveraged to undermine the Palestinian Authorities, and Israel must pursue policies which promote internal and external financial stability.

As the deadline of 30 November approaches, we therefore renew our call for Israel to immediately extend the indemnifications by at least one year, and for future extensions to be transparent, predictable and de-politicised.

December 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Council funding to be overhauled to deliver better outcomes [November 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 28 November 2024.

Funding reform kickstarted to fix the foundations of local government and better use taxpayer cash.

Long overdue reforms to council funding to ensure it offers better value for money have been outlined today (28th November) alongside more money for councils to help fix the foundations of local government.

The government will launch a consultation next month on its long-term proposals to fundamentally improve the way the sector is funded, moving away from an outdated and inefficient approach – which has seen some councils increasing their level of reserves and others struggling to deliver services and balance budgets – and shifting to a fairer system which matches funding with need.

This major reform, which will be subject to extensive consultation with local leaders, will ensure public money is spent more efficiently on improving services local people rely on through a fairer system which builds on the lessons learned through the previous government’s review of Relative Needs and Resources, better known as the ‘Fair Funding Review’, which highlighted the problem of how councils are funded and the need for change but was delayed and never implemented.

It will be launched alongside a consultation on the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26, which includes a new £600 million Recovery Grant for areas most in need, an increase to the Social Care Grant by £680 million, a new £250 million Children’s Social Care Prevention Grant and the repurposing of grants to offer better value for money for the taxpayer and deliver better outcomes for local people, including the most vulnerable.

Overall, local government is expected to receive a real-terms increase in Core Spending Power of around 3.2% and no council will see a reduction in this after taking account of any increase in council tax levels. On average, places with a significant rural population will receive an increase of around 5% in their Core Spending Power, and will be better off this year compared with 2024-2025.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

For too long councils have been let down by an outdated and inefficient funding system which has led to public services creaking and taxpayers’ money not being spent efficiently.

Whilst there’s no magic wand to fix what we’ve inherited, we’re taking the necessary steps to fix the foundations of local government by creating a fairer system and ensuring every penny is spent on the services so many people rely on every day.

The £680m increase for the Social Care Grant will help local authorities address social care pressures, whilst the new £250m Children’s Social Care Prevention Grant will help ensure children stay with their families or in safe loving homes where possible as part of a planned overhaul of the system next year. Legislation will be brought forward to crack down on the profiteering of vulnerable children and ensure local government can deliver safe, loving homes for children in care.

The Budget also set out more than £4 billion of investment in local government – of which £1.3 billion will come through the Settlement – to build new homes, invest in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and improve homelessness services, and tackle potholes.

On funding reform, further consultations are planned before the final proposals will be developed, published and again consulted on ahead of the provisional settlement for 2026-2027 – ensuring the views of local leaders are reflected, in another demonstration of the government’s push to reset relationships with councils.

Implementation of these reforms will take place alongside multi-year funding settlements, the first in 10 years come 2026-2027, allowing local authorities the certainty to plan and invest for the long-term. The number of funding pots will also be reduced to allow councils to have more flexibility to judge local priorities, to meet the needs of local people, and to decide how best to deliver on national priorities.

The Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-2026 will further maintain the previous government’s referendum threshold for council tax at 3% with 2% for the adult social care precept, balancing the need between protecting local taxpayers who are still feeling the impact of the cost of living and funding local public services.

The government also confirmed it will: provide support to the public sector, including local government, to meet the increased costs of directly employed staff arising from changes to employer National Insurance Contribution (NICs); plans to merge grants and simplify funding; and a commitment to overhauling the local audit system and to hold talks with local government over reorganisation if appropriate.

Several grants including the Rural Services Delivery Grant and the Services Grant will be repurposed. The government will ensure the impact of rurality on the cost of service delivery and demand is reflected in the public consultation next year. Places with a significant rural population will still on average receive around a 5% increase in their Core Spending Power, which is a real terms increase. No council will see a reduction.

Councils will also receive over £1 billion in total through the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packing scheme (pEPR) which will cover the existing costs they incur for managing household packaging waste, provide additional funding for new legal duties, and support much needed investment in the waste and recycling industry. Provisional payment figures will be shared with councils by the end of November.

December 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Unpaid carers supported by £22.6 million investment in innovation [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 November 2024.

£22.6 million invested in innovative projects across the country to support unpaid carers as well as people with care needs.
- Technology, digital innovations and projects to support unpaid carers to be rolled out across England
- Funding boost will help give carers much-needed breaks and greater flexibility with caring responsibilities
- It follows the biggest rise in the Carer’s Allowance earnings threshold since the 1970s, allowing unpaid carers to earn more
New technology and innovations in care will improve the lives of unpaid carers and care users following a funding boost announced by the Minister of State for Care today (28 November 2024).

The Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, will announce a £22.6 million boost for initiatives that will improve support for unpaid carers in England, including projects to help give carers much-needed breaks and greater flexibility, as well as technology to make their lives easier, at the National Children and Adult Services Conference on Thursday 28 November.

Money will be released next week through the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) to support successful schemes run by local authorities. They include:
- new ways to identify and recognise unpaid carers to ensure nobody is left behind
- digitising carers’ assessments so that they are easier to access
- setting up carers’ support services in hospitals
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said:

Unpaid carers are the country’s unsung heroes. They provide invaluable support to vulnerable people every day.

It is vital they too have the support they need so they can look after their own health and wellbeing. This funding will allow local authorities to harness the full potential of technology to give carers more flexibility and help with these crucial roles.

Kathryn Smith, Chief Executive at Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), said:

SCIE is excited to be delivering the ARF support programme to participating local authorities. Nearly 70% of the local projects address the needs of unpaid carers. Others are using innovation to drive greater productivity and to improve people’s care experiences. We expect the learnings from the programme to generate insights about how to scale and spread innovation within social care.

Initiatives that are being rolled out across the country include:
- in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, local authorities are rolling out technology to enable remote monitoring of people with care needs at night. This helps provide greater flexibility for unpaid carers and more independence for people with care needs
- Worcestershire is deploying video technology to support carers when people are discharged from hospital to allow remote monitoring from healthcare workers, reducing the risk of re-admission
- in Lincolnshire, local authorities are developing a workshop programme of arts, heritage and nature activities for unpaid carers and people with care needs, namely sessions in painting, floral art and printing. They work with unpaid carers to shape the programme with activities of their choice and they are supported with respite care and transport to ensure that unpaid carers can attend the sessions to have a break
- in London, local authorities have set up a Think Carer campaign to help people to recognise themselves as carers and provide additional support through introducing health and lifestyle checks and carers’ counselling services
- Medway Council and Kent County Council are in the early stages of digitising self-assessments so unpaid carers can easily find the information, advice and guidance that they need to make their lives easier. They have also published an employer carers toolkit for local businesses supporting carers in their workforce
The ARF is also supporting some areas in the country to scale up community-based care models. These enshrine ‘home first’ principles that enable people to live independently for longer, such as through the Shared Lives service, which matches people with care needs with approved carers who share their homes.

At the Budget last month, the Chancellor announced the Carer’s Allowance earnings threshold will increase by over £2,300, providing unpaid carers the opportunity to earn more while simultaneously caring for their loved ones. This is the largest increase to the earnings limit since the Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976.

Councils will also receive £1.3 billion of new funding for 2025 to 2026, including at least £600 million for social care. This is alongside an extra £86 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant to bolster support for councils and those with social care needs to prolong their independence and reduce hospitalisations.

The government is determined to tackle the challenges facing adult social care and build a National Care Service so everybody can access the high-quality care they deserve.

Background information

The Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) provides a total of £42.6 million over 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 to 123 local projects, covering 149 local authorities and over 35 delivery partners in all 42 integrated care systems across the country. The fund supports innovation and adopts new, creative initiatives to improve support for unpaid carers and in the adult social care sector.

The first tranche of funding, £20 million, was released in 2023 to 2024. The second tranche of funding, £22.6 million, will be released to local authorities next week.

The projects will be evaluated to ensure that we learn from them about how to best support and encourage ongoing innovation in the adult social care sector.
December 29, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Transport Secretary unveils her vision for integrated transport across England [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 28 November 2024.

The Integrated National Transport Strategy will set out a ‘people first approach’ to getting people around the country.
- Transport Secretary reveals new ‘people-first’ approach to transport, in a speech to Metro Mayors, Council leaders and transport bodies in Leeds
- new transport strategy aims to join up transport networks, empower local leaders and drive economic growth
Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, has today (28 November 2024) set out her vision for more joined up and locally-led transport across England in a speech to Mayors and transport bosses.

Speaking at Leeds Civic Hall, she outlined her vision for a new Integrated National Transport Strategy, the first in a quarter of a century – which will set out a ‘people first approach’ to getting people around the country. Recognising that different passengers have different needs, and the quality of transport varies across the country, it will set out how government can support local areas to make all forms of transport work together better.

The strategy will set out a clear vision for how transport across England can evolve over the next 10 years so that more places offer better, more seamless journeys door-to-door – like those facilitated by the successful Bee Network in Greater Manchester and Transport for London. The Bee Network brings together bus, metro and active travel under one name, meaning transport works together better for people.

The Transport Secretary has looked to Dijon for inspiration, having visited it earlier this year to see how a city roughly the size of York, or Chester, is running buses every five minutes in rush hour, the tram every three and has a dial-a-ride service to the outlying villages. Dijon has also created a single app that brings together every mode of transport – from bus to tram, car hire to bike hire, planning journeys to paying for parking.

The department is also reforming its appraisal system, so that projects deliver good value for money as well as the right outcomes – such as more jobs, improved access to education and healthier communities. These reforms include giving sufficient weight to transport projects that enhance access to jobs, boost productivity, and help businesses grow, particularly in less affluent areas.

To support this, an internal panel of experts are also reviewing the department’s capital spend portfolio, to drive better economic outcomes in our transport system.

The Transport Secretary said:

Integrated transport in this country is lagging behind our European counterparts, and for too long our fragmented transport networks have stunted economic growth and made it harder for people to get around.

Today, I’m launching a new national vision of transport that seamlessly joins all modes of transport together, and puts people at the heart of our transport system.

I want everyone to be able to contribute to this vision and have launched a call for ideas on how the strategy can best deliver greater opportunity, healthier communities and better lives.

Regional roadshows will be hosted around the country to hear more from local leaders, transport operators and passenger bodies, as well as taking feedback from the public, to hear how to best deliver integrated transport.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:

A better integrated public transport system is vital to growing our economy.

In West Yorkshire, I have big plans for a world-leading mass transit system that will be fully integrated with railways and a publicly controlled bus network, helping people to access new jobs and opportunities across the region.

The Secretary of State’s new Integrated National Transport Strategy will support me and other mayors to deliver on our ambition for better-connected and faster growing regions.

The Transport Secretary also emphasised the importance of using data in rural areas, where driving is a more practical choice, to manage traffic flows and help drivers easily find, and pay for, parking spaces. She also outlined her intention to promote cycling and walking as the best choice for shorter journeys, and prioritise pavement repairs, safe crossing and cycle infrastructure where they are needed most.

It is hoped that joining up all forms of transport will particularly benefit people in those areas that haven’t seen the links they need to get to jobs and services, thereby enhancing opportunities and driving national economic growth.

To oversee this new vision, the department will be recruiting a new Integrated Transport Commissioner to help deliver real change.
December 29, 2024