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  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with bus companies on priority wheelchair spaces on buses.

    Andrew Jones

    The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) 2000 require all affected vehicles to incorporate a designated space suitable for a reference wheelchair.

    The use of the wheelchair space is currently the subject of a case at the Supreme Court however. As such Ministers are unable to discuss it with bus operators.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the most recent cost estimate is for each of the road projects listed in the Government’s announcement, Major roads investment in the North West, published on 1 December 2014, that have not yet been completed; and what the final costs were of any of those projects that have been completed.

    Andrew Jones

    For schemes that are Open for Traffic, the actual out-turn costs have been provided. Schemes that are in development or construction show the latest approved estimate.

    Scheme Name

    Announced

    Estimated Cost (£m)

    Source of Estimate

    M60 J8 to M62J20:Smart Motorway

    2010

    228

    Under construction

    A556 Knutsford to Bowdon

    2010

    191.9

    Under construction

    M6 J16 to J19

    2013

    223.3

    Under construction

    For the remaining schemes outlined in the 1 December 2014 announcement, the current costs are the cost category as quoted in the RIS Investment Plan, which can be found at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/381496/roads-investment-strategy-summary-of-schemes.pdf

    There is currently no cost information for the Strategic Studies as they are in the very early stages of investigating options.

    “

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the A591 in Cumbria to be fully accessible.

    Andrew Jones

    Highways England is leading on the full and permanent reinstatement of the A591 and has committed to have the road fully reopened to the public by the end of May 2016.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what revenue has been generated by the HGV levy for foreign operators in each of the last 24 months.

    Andrew Jones

    HGV levy revenue from foreign-registered vehicles is shown in the table. This gives figures from April 2014, when the levy started, up to the most recent available month. This shows that since April 2014 £91.2 million has been raised from foreign-registered vehicles. Note that the figures for April 2014 and March 2015 are high because they include a relatively high number of annual levy purchases.

    Year/ Month

    Revenue

    2014 April

    £7,178,086

    May

    £3,314,580

    June

    £3,253,123

    July

    £3,387,029

    August

    £2,974,123

    September

    £3,327,219

    October

    £3,591,528

    November

    £3,553,346

    December

    £3,030,512

    2015 January

    £3,945,650

    February

    £3,644,256

    March

    £5,335,114

    April

    £4,432,556

    May

    £3,838,753

    June

    £4,111,036

    July

    £4,290,470

    August

    £3,459,024

    September

    £3,969,077

    October

    £4,224,229

    November

    £4,250,758

    December

    £3,385,109

    2016 January

    £4,279,644

    February

    £4,377,591
  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when electrification of the Great Western Mainline as far as Cardiff Central is expected to be completed.

    Claire Perry

    Sir Peter Hendy’s report published on 25 November 2015 stated that the electrification of the Great Western Mainline to Cardiff is planned to be completed by the end of Control Period 5, before March 2019.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received regarding the Civil Aviation Authority’s consultation on air display and low-flying permission charges; what (a) estimate of the cost and (b) assessment of the timeframe of implementing those proposals he has made; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Twelve Honourable Members have sent me thirteen letters from constituents about the Civil Aviation Authority’s consultation on air display and low-flying permission charges, which itself received 534 responses. Two individuals have written directly to me. A related parliamentary petition 120628 has received over 14,400 signatures. The Civil Aviation Authority consulted the Secretary of State on 8 March about this scheme of charges. I intend to respond shortly.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of free-flow technology on the Severn Bridge.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government is considering the future of tolling arrangements at the Severn Crossing once the concession ends. I expect to consider the merits of free-flow technology in this context, although no options have yet been developed. To help understand whether this may be worth pursuing, my Department is attempting to estimate the potential traffic benefit of removing the barriers, though this work is not yet complete.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on its consultation on air display and low-flying permission charges.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    I have had no discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority on its consultation on air display and low-flying permission charges.

  • Cat Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cat Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received on the incidence of refusals by taxi drivers to carry assistance dogs; and if he will introduce compulsory disability awareness training for drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles.

    Andrew Jones

    I am aware of the ongoing problems passengers accompanied by assistance dogs encounter when using taxis and private hire vehicles.

    The Department has issued comprehensive guidance to both licensing authorities and the licensed industry in respect of the relevant duties in the Equality Act 2010. Any allegations of breaches of the Act must be reported to the local licensing authority to enable them to take appropriate action.

    Although there is no legal requirement for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake disability awareness training, the Department’s Best Practice Guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing recommends that local licensing authorities to work with the industry in their area to improve drivers’ awareness of the needs of disabled people. This includes encouraging their drivers to undertake disability awareness training.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from (a) consumer groups and (b) railway franchise holders on the level of staffing at small railway stations; and if he will make a statement.

    Claire Perry

    Whilst we regulate Ticket Office opening times through the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, station staffing levels are primarily a matter for operators as we believe that they themselves are best placed to determine how to meet the needs of their passengers.

    Since February 2015, 3 ticket offices have reduced their opening hours after train companies followed the procedure as set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, which includes making representation to the Department.

    Passenger Focus (as was) and London TravelWatch provided responses to the East Anglia franchise public consultation with regard to staffing.

    More recently, both Transport Focus and London TravelWatch have made representations to the Department with regard to the South Western franchise consultation and staffing.

    Representatives from Govia Thameslink Railway have also briefed officials at the Department on their plans to carry out a consultation on proposals to change ticket office opening hours at some stations.