The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Colvile on 2016-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the economic benefits of the construction of a second rail line into the South West.
Claire Perry
The reinstatement of the Exeter – Okehampton – Plymouth route and the economic value of re-opening it is being looked at by the Peninsula Rail Task Force (PRTF). They will report to the Secretary of State in July 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the operational performance of the Office for Rail and Road.
Claire Perry
The Government is constantly looking to ensure the most effective regulatory regime is in place so that the railway delivers for its customers.
This has included, most recently, a review of the roles and responsibilities of the Office of the Rail and Road. The outcomes of this were announced to the House on 17 March.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jack Lopresti on 2016-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on supporting skills development to help deliver the Government’s transport infrastructure programmes.
Andrew Jones
The Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy published in January this year sets out our plans, among which our ambition to create thirty thousand apprenticeships in the roads and rail sectors by 2020. Earlier this month we launched the taskforce that will implement the strategy, chaired by Simon Kirby, CEO of HS2 Ltd. These steps have been carried out in consultation with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Her Majesty’s Treasury and other partners across Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Blackford on 2016-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to review the effectiveness of the public service obligation for regional airports.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government plans to update its Aviation Policy Framework this year. As part of this update the Government will consider the role that public service obligations can play in serving regional airports.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of changes to the subsidy profile for the Northern Rail franchise on the quality of rail services.
Claire Perry
Thanks to the work of this Government, the hon. Lady’s constituents will benefit from a transformed rail service under the new franchise. In addition, this improvement for passengers will be provided while improving the value for money of the operation for the benefit of all tax payers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that high speed rail will interconnect effectively with the rest of the transport network.
Mr Patrick McLoughlin
HS2 will not be a separate, standalone railway. It will be an integrated part of a 21st Century transport network.
Through our interchange stations, classic compatible trains and exploitation of the released capacity we will deliver the integrated service that passengers need. Our work with local areas to implement Growth Strategies will ensure HS2 integrates with local transport networks.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-04-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which bodies he met for his Department’s investigation into tips, gratuities, covers and service charges; and on how many occasions and when such meetings with such bodies took place.
Nick Boles
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills launched the Call for Evidence into tips, gratuities, cover and service charges on 30 August 2016. This closed on 10 November 2016. The Government received a total of 183 responses from a range of sources during the investigation. In addition to this, officials of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have met with the British Hospitality Association, UnitetheUnion and the Association of Licenced Multiple Retailers during the call for evidence period.
Departments publish details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations. BIS transparency data is published online at www.gov.uk/government/collections/bis-quarterly-publications-april-to-june-2012.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-04-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on ensuring that Ministry of Defence contracts with suppliers and manufacturers benefit the UK economy.
Anna Soubry
My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has regular discussions with my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on a wide variety of issues. My department supports the Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), published last November, which set out the Government’s commitment to get the best value for money for the taxpayer in a way that strengthens our economy and bolsters the long-term prosperity of people across the UK. The SDSR committed the Government to refreshing its defence industrial policy and taking further action to help the UK’s defence industry grow and compete successfully and my department is engaging MOD on taking this work forward.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-04-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to sustain aerospace engineering capability and capacity in the South West region.
Anna Soubry
We work closely with aerospace companies and their representative organisations, in particular the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF), in the South West through the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) to tackle barriers to growth, boost exports and grow high value jobs. As part of this work we are investing heavily in the sector to support the industry’s private investment in technology, competitiveness and productivity, manufacturing capability and skills.
The work of the AGP includes businesses of all sizes in the South West region including large players such as Airbus, Finmeccanica Helicopters, GE Aviation, GKN, Rolls-Royce, Safran Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, UTC Aerospace Systems, as well as their many medium and small sized suppliers, and other specialist aerospace businesses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2016-04-22.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the (a) Prudential Regulation Authority and (b) Financial Conduct Authority on collateralised loan obligations containing high-yield energy debt and the default rate of companies in the oil and gas sector on high-yield loans.
Harriett Baldwin
Treasury Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to discuss relevant regulatory issues.
As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Treasury’s practice to provide details of all such discussions.