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  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information her Department holds on the number and severity of incidents involving trains carrying nuclear material on the rail network.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Details of safety events involving the transport of nuclear material both by rail and on the strategic road network can be found in the following report:

    Events reported to Nuclear Safety Regulator 2001-2015:

    http://news.onr.org.uk/2016/02/events-reported-to-nuclear-safety-regulator-2001-15/

    “

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the development of a new railway station at Horden; and when that development is expected to be completed.

    Andrew Jones

    Horden Station is currently being worked on by Durham City Council and is in the advanced stages of the design phase of development. The outcome of this phase will give direction to the funding requirements and delivery plans going forward.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information her Department holds on the number and severity of incidents involving vehicles transporting nuclear material on the strategic road network.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Details of safety events involving the transport of nuclear material both by rail and on the strategic road network can be found in the following report:

    Events reported to Nuclear Safety Regulator 2001-2015:

    http://news.onr.org.uk/2016/02/events-reported-to-nuclear-safety-regulator-2001-15/

    “

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve journey times and train frequencies between Easington constituency and local rail hubs at Sunderland and Newcastle.

    Andrew Jones

    As part of the new franchise award, the Northern franchisee will be required before October 2017 to undertake a feasibility study, identifying options for journey time improvements across the whole network, including services in the North East. This will include possible changes to existing infrastructure, improvements to rolling stock capability and reliability and the implementing of changes to service patterns.

    Any resulting changes would be in addition to the local benefits secured as part of the franchise including the withdrawal of Pacer trains and the refurbishment of all the existing carriages retained in the franchise long term.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans are in place to upgrade trains and services on the Sunderland to Nunthorpe line.

    Andrew Jones

    Services between Sunderland and Middlesbrough will benefit from additional morning and later evening trains. The line between Whitby and Middlesbrough (including Nunthorpe) will benefit from an earlier morning arrival from Whitby into Middlesbrough and the provision of Sunday services all year round.

    All trains on the franchise will be upgraded and fully refurbished to include improved seating, repainted interiors, Wi-Fi, real time passenger information screens and improved lighting. In addition, all the existing Pacer trains will be withdrawn by the end of 2019.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve transport connectivity between Easington constituency and the six principal city regions as part of the Northern Transport Strategy.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government is working closely with all northern local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships to deliver, prioritise and develop a range of interventions for the Northern Transport Strategy, which aims to put in place a faster, more frequent and fully integrated transport system to connect up the North.

    In the short term, the £380m A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade will see the motorway connection between the North East and the five other city regions of the north completed in summer 2017. Network Rail are developing a proposal for the Transpennine Route upgrade between Stalybridge and York. Subject to final funding approvals this could be complete by the end of 2022 and would see an electrified rail line running from the North East to Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.

    For the longer term, we are progressing plans on projects which will transform travel across the North. These include a strategic study to consider improved trans-pennine connections on the A66 and A69; the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail east-west high-speed rail link; and Smart North, a smart ticketing system for the north of England.

  • Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the publication by HS2 Ltd, Broad options for upgraded and high speed railways to the North of England and Scotland, published in March 2016, whether the Government is planning to extend High Speed 2 beyond Manchester and Leeds.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    When Phase One of HS2 opens in 2026, new HS2 trains will serve Manchester, north west England and Glasgow. When the full Y Network opens in 2033, the new HS2 route will extend to just south of Wigan and York and HS2 trains will then also serve Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The UK and Scottish Governments share an ultimate ambition for 3 hour journeys between London and Scotland’s central belt, but we recognise the further work needed to understand the benefits and business cases of different options.

  • 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 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many incidents of laser pen attacks were recorded on ships in UK waters in each of the last five years.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Her Majesty’s Coastguard does not routinely keep this information. However since January 2015, HM Coastguard has been notified of four incidents involving the use of laser pen attacks on ships in UK waters. HM Coastguard informs the police immediately so that they can consider appropriate action.

  • Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of private hire operators straddling licensing authorities in order to avoid more thorough licensing requirements under the Deregulation Act 2015.

    Andrew Jones

    Before these measures were introduced, the Department undertook an informal targeted consultation, which focused on key stakeholders such as national licencing associations, respected solicitors in the taxi and private hire industry and a union. The Department also conducted an impact assessment for this policy.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Bridget Phillipson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to present the new Buses Bill to Parliament.

    Andrew Jones

    Work continues on the drafting of the Bill. Its introduction will depend on the Parliamentary timetable, but we are working towards introducing the Bill in the next session.