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  • Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many large-scale business cases submitted by his Department to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority were accepted in the 2015-16 financial year in each region; and what the value of (a) public and (b) private sector funding committed was for each of those projects in each such region.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) provides expertise, practical help and independent assurance of major projects, working with all partners in infrastructure and major projects (government departments, project teams, HMT, Cabinet Office, and the private sector). The remit of the IPA does not include providing formal approval and as such departments do not submit business cases to the IPA for approval.

    The IPA publish an annual comprehensive forward-looking assessment of the current and planned investment in UK economic infrastructure across both the public and private sectors (The National Infrastructure Pipeline). This document contains financial information of the level of public and private infrastructure investment broken down by region currently in development and planned to 2021 and beyond. The Spring 2016 update can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-infrastructure-pipeline-2016.

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  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will implement the proposal set out on page 326 of the OECD Policy Roundtable on Competition in Road Fuel to introduce road signs displaying the price of petrol and diesel at motorway service stations in order to improve transparency and consumer choice.

    Mr John Hayes

    This Government knows the public is concerned about the price of petrol and diesel at Motorway Service Areas. Highways England is, on behalf of the Government, delivering an 18 month trial of four fuel comparison price signs on the M5 between Bristol and Exeter.

    The trial consists of four new electronic signs displaying real-time price information of petrol and diesel for the next three service areas along the route and commenced in Spring 2016. Monitoring and evaluation of the trial will determine the effectiveness of the new fuel comparison price signs in providing useful information to road users and in understanding the impact of improving fuel price transparency on driver behaviour and fuel prices at Motorway Service Areas.

  • Peter Bone – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Peter Bone – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Bone on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce when construction of the Isham bypass in Wellingborough constituency will (a) commence and (b) be finished.

    Andrew Jones

    Funding for the proposed Isham Bypass (also known as the A509 Wellingborough Development Link) was provisionally approved by the Government in 2014 as part of the Northamptonshire Growth Deal. This approval is subject to the scheme promoters, Northamptonshire County Council, obtaining any necessary statutory permissions and submitting to the Department a Final Business Case for approval.

    The Council expects to submit a Final Business Case in March 2017. Ministers will then make a final funding decision, as quickly as possible thereafter, on whether to support the scheme. The Council’s current programme is to start construction in September 2017 and to open the completed road in April 2019.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 45389, and with reference to his Department’s press release, End of the road for grey speed cameras, published on 14 November 2015, how many camera sites that are on the motorway network currently contain working grey speed cameras; and what recent assessment he has made of Highways England’s progress in meeting the target of painting all working speed cameras yellow by October 2016.

    Mr John Hayes

    The current number of grey speed cameras on our network is 27. The Highways England programme of work is currently on target to ensure all grey speed cameras on the network are yellow by October 2016

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 45155, at which stations will planned Control Period 5 Access for all improvements be deferred into Control Period 6 in connection with his decision to accept the Hendy Review.

    Paul Maynard

    We are currently working with Network Rail to ensure that the majority of Access for All stations will have at least a design completed in this rail Control Period. This will ensure that stations that have construction deferred will be ready to start on site as early as possible once funding is available again in 2019/20. We expect to announce which stations will be affected shortly.

  • Natalie McGarry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Natalie McGarry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which reports commissioned by his Department from external bodies between 1 January 2015 and 31 August 2016 have not yet been published; when each report was commissioned for research; what the nature of the research commissioned was; from which external body or individual person the research was commissioned; what the value was of each such piece of research commissioned; on what date each report was received by his Department; for what reasons the research has not yet been published; and when he plans to publish each report.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Department commissions a wide range of research to support its objectives. The general presumption is that research results used in the course of the Department’s business should be made available to broaden knowledge and better inform discussion. In a few circumstances (for instance, where the research relates to security matters or where the Department does not hold the necessary rights to publish) such information is not published; but such circumstances are exceptional. Information on publication of the outputs of this research is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Kate Green – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Kate Green – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve access to public transport for disabled people.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government recognises how important improving access to public transport is for disabled people and is committed to making transport more inclusive.

    Since its launch in 2006, the £390m Access for All rail programme (which was further extended with £160m in 2014) has delivered accessible routes at over 150 stations. There are also 68 further projects at various stages of construction or development.

    We also recognise that positive interactions with bus drivers can make a big difference to disabled people’s experience of taking the bus. We are working with the bus industry and disabled people to design best practice guidance in delivering disability awareness training which, we hope, will help to give bus drivers the skills and knowledge to assist every disabled passenger.

    In addition, the Bus Services Bill will specifically allow enhanced partnership schemes to require all buses within a local area to provide audible and visual next stop information. Authorities using the new franchising powers will be able to place similar requirements on affected operators. The Government has also agreed to consider amendments on this issue which were tabled during the Bill’s committee stage in the House of Lords.

    The Government intends to publish an Accessibility Action Plan by the end of the year which will present its ambition for further progress on this important agenda.

  • Kate Green – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Kate Green – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of accessible taxis in the UK.

    Andrew Jones

    Government is committed to giving disabled people the same access to transport services as other members of society. It also recognises the particularly significant role played by taxis and private hire vehicle (PHV) operators for many disabled people, in helping them to remain active and independent.

    It is for local authorities to specify a number of accessible vehicles to be within their licensed taxi and private hire vehicle fleet, and to take account of their public sector equality duties when doing so.

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide an update on his Department’s preparations for the Mottram by-pass.

    Mr John Hayes

    Highways England is currently identifying and assessing options for the Trans Pennine Routes which includes the Mottram by-pass. A public consultation on the Preferred Route is currently planned to take place in early 2017. There will also be two public awareness events in October 2016 which will provide an opportunity for people in the local communities to meet the project team, receive an update on progress and provide feedback which can then be used in the development of the scheme.

    Planning permission for this scheme will require an application for a Development Consent Order and start of works is planned by March 2020 in line with the Highways England’s Delivery Plan 2015 – 2020.

  • Angela Crawley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Angela Crawley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Crawley on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the protection of passenger rights in the UK.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for passenger rights. Until we leave, EU law still applies, so EU rules on passenger rights will continue to apply in the UK, alongside national rules.