The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-03-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on passenger revenues of an extension of driver-only operation on services operated by Govia Thameslink Railways Ltd.
Claire Perry
No assessment has been made of the potential effect on passenger revenues of an extension of driver-only operation on services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-04-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 28689, how many staff in his Department received overtime pay in each of the last 24 months.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
The number of FCO staff who have received overtime payments in each of the last 24 months is:
|
2014 |
|
|
April |
326 |
|
May |
219 |
|
June |
226 |
|
July |
352 |
|
August |
363 |
|
September |
271 |
|
October |
429 |
|
November |
213 |
|
December |
191 |
|
2015 |
|
|
January |
188 |
|
February |
208 |
|
March |
278 |
|
April |
294 |
|
May |
220 |
|
June |
320 |
|
July |
200 |
|
August |
241 |
|
September |
477 |
|
October |
309 |
|
November |
247 |
|
December |
258 |
|
2016 |
|
|
January |
167 |
|
February |
255 |
|
March |
197 |
Staff can only claim overtime when required by management to work more than their conditioned hours. In the majority of cases claims are made after exceptional demands on Foreign Office staff during times of global crises.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of when all exchange-only lines will have access to fibre broadband.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The vast majority of phone lines across the UK connect to the nearest telephone exchange via a street cabinet, which can be upgraded to deliver fibre broadband. Estimates are not available of the number of premises served by exchange only lines and therefore when they will all have access to fibre broadband. Exchange only lines present a greater engineering challenge to deliver fibre broadband than those connected via street cabinets but technical solutions are available; one solution is to rearrange the existing network, lay new cables to reroute lines to new cabinets – a technique developed as part of the BDUK Superfast Broadband Programme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support the updating of the European NCAP and (b) promote new road safety technology.
Andrew Jones
The Department for Transport, as a founding member of Euro NCAP, takes a keen interest in their work on improving car safety through financial support and active participation on the Board of Directors.
Euro NCAP regularly updates the assessment criteria to reflect new technologies and improved designs. As such it has been fundamental to improving the safety of new cars in the UK, and the organisation provides a valuable source of information to UK consumers.
The British Road Safety Statement, published in December 2015, sets out a range of measures to improve vehicle safety. These include actions to increase the awareness of the Euro NCAP star rating system so that consumers are better able to consider safety in their purchasing decisions, as well as engaging with fleet buyers in both public and private sectors.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Conor McGinn on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unsolved murders there are in cases where the remains have not been recovered in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland.
Brandon Lewis
The Home Office Homicide Index contains information on homicides recorded by the police in England and Wales. Information on whether a body was recovered in a homicide has been included in the Homicide Index since 2007/08.
In the eight years from 2007/08 to 2014/15, there were 30 homicides where no body has been recovered and no suspect has been charged and a further seven where suspects have been acquitted of homicide at court or proceedings have been discontinued.
The data refer to the position as at 13 November 2015, when the Homicide Index was frozen for the purpose of analysis.
Information on homicides in Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Scottish Government and Police Service of Northern Ireland respectively.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2015-11-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of medical negligence cases which may be affected by the Government’s proposals to introduce fixed recoverable costs in cases worth up to (a) £10,000, (b) £25,000, (c) £50,000, (d) £100,000 and (e) £250,000; and what the average saving he hopes to secure at each level is.
Ben Gummer
NHS Litigation Authority data shows that the number of medical negligence cases which may be affected by the Government’s proposals to introduce fixed recoverable costs is as follows:
In cases worth up to £25,000 there are 12,831 cases, up to £50,000 there are 17,971 cases, up to £100,000 there are 24,519 cases, and up to £250,000 there are 29,334 cases; the average saving will depend on any final arrangements agreed.
Information related to cases worth up to £10,000 is not held in the format requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2015-12-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what upgrades are planned for Newmarket railway station.
Claire Perry
There are plans already in development to improve lighting at Newmarket station which will be undertaken in the early years of the new franchise due to start in October 2016.
For the new East Anglia franchise we have adopted a new stations policy. This requires a 40 year Stations Asset Management Plan along with a 10 year Station Social and Commercial Development Plan. This will ensure the bidders target the provision of services at stations according to the volume and needs of passengers at the individual station. We expect bidders to plan for investments to improve the station environment and facilities for passengers as part of a 40 year station strategy.
Theformation of a Station Social and Commercial Development Plan involves consulting with users and the local community on concerns, issues, opportunities and risks relating to individual stations and the priorities for investment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-01-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Earl Howe on 18 January concerning a gifting package to Ukraine (HLWS463), whether this gift will be financed from the overseas aid budget, the defence budget, or another source.
Earl Howe
The gift of 3,500 first aid kits will be purchased using funds from Her Majesty’s Government’s Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund (CSSF). The CSSF is a cross-Whitehall fund. As well as defence reform, the CSSF Ukraine programme supports a number of interventions including strategic communications, peace-building activities and support to international organisations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on ensuring that High Speed 2 stations should be located where they can deliver maximum impact on public investment.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Analysis of the Sheffield City Region station options was published in the ‘Engineering options report; West Midlands to Leeds’ dated March 2012. This included analysis of several station sites around the city centre.
The current estimated difference in cost between locating a High Speed station at Victoria and Meadowhall is £680m. Previous work on the cost of options at Victoria and other city centre sites are not comparable to the current estimate given above. With regards to the Meadowhall station, following the 2013 public consultation, no significant changes have been made to the original station design therefore there have not been any changes in cost.
When recommending a station location HS2 Ltd. uses a number of criteria, including;
Potential options were sifted by HS2 Ltd. according to these criteria. To support and challenge this approach, external stakeholders and advisors from the Department’s Project Representative Team were involved in reviewing the process and outcomes where appropriate. Further information about the appraisal process can be found in the 2012 ‘Options for phase two of the high speed rail network’ report and 2013 ‘Appraisal of Sustainability’ report. Both of these documents are available on the government website.
Analysis undertaken by HS2 shows that the introduction of the Sheffield Meadowhall HS2 station could support up to 5,400 jobs and up to 300 residential units, while a HS2 station at Victoria could support an estimated 9,000 jobs and 900 housing units.
Finally, I can confirm that Department for Transport officials have received a copy of Sheffield City Region’s study into connectivity for a city centre High Speed 2 station at Victoria which Network Rail was involved in.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-03-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Office of Rail Regulation have had with Govia Thameslink Railways Ltd on changes to criteria for driver-only operation.
Claire Perry
Neither the Department for Transport nor the Office of Rail and Road have held any specific discussions with Govia Thameslink Railway on changes to criteria for driver-only operation.