Blog

  • James Cartlidge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    James Cartlidge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Cartlidge on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department takes into account cancellation of services when considering the Office of Road and Rail estimated usage of stations.

    Claire Perry

    The Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR’s) Estimates of Station Usage statistics provide an estimate of the number of people entering, exiting and interchanging at the station. Entries and exits are estimated using ticket sales data, using the origin and destination of the ticket.

    As Great Britain does not have a fully gated rail network, a complete recording of passenger flows is not possible and as a result, it is not possible to tell whether a passenger has used their purchased ticket or not. Therefore, in the case of cancelled trains, ORR assume that the passenger has still used their ticket, potentially on a later service or via a different route.

    More information about how these statistics are compiled is available in the Estimates of Station Usage 2014-15 Methodological Report on the Office of Rail and Road website at http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates.

    “

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Written Statement on 9 December 2015, HCWS369, whether the new franchisees referred to will be required to replace all Pacer trains on both the TransPennine Express and Northern franchises; and by what year all Pacer trains will be replaced on both franchises.

    Andrew Jones

    As we have made clear both publicly and in the House (UINs 5008 and 19363) all Pacer trains in service on the Northern Franchise will be withdrawn by the end of 2019.

    There are no Pacers in service with the TransPennine Franchise.

  • John Spellar – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    John Spellar – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints have been made to the DVLA about the issuing of private parking tickets in the last year; how many such complaints have been upheld; and how many companies have been barred from access to the DVLA data base in that period.

    Andrew Jones

    In 2015, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) received 59 complaints about 23 different private parking companies about concerns arising from the issue of a private parking ticket.

    Six private parking companies were suspended from requesting DVLA data in 2015.

  • Seema Kennedy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Seema Kennedy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Kennedy on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will support the increase of infrastructure for onboard wifi along the West Coast rail line.

    Claire Perry

    We recognise intermittent internet access is a frustration felt by many rail passengers. I have met with Virgin Trains to discuss their ambitions to improve internet connectivity on both West Coast and East Coast main lines. I recognise that this is an important issue for West Coast passengers and that we need to find a solution where all passengers can benefit.

    Free Wi-Fi is being introduced on all Department for Transport-controlled rail franchises in England and Wales. All train operators bidding for new franchises and direct award agreements will have to present a phased implementation plan for free Wi-Fi. The West Coast franchise is being tendered this year with the new contract commencing in 2018, which will include this obligation.

    On-train Wi-Fi addresses some of the issues, however we recognise that there is more to do that will require enhancements to trackside infrastructure. That’s why we are working with the rail and telecommunications industries to reach a shared understanding of the technical and commercial challenges, and seek out potential solutions.

  • Jessica Morden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jessica Morden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles were identified and impounded solely on the basis of non-payment of vehicle excise duty as part of the pilot enforcement action using automatic number plate recognition of illegal foreign-registered vehicles in the UK.

    Andrew Jones

    The pilot took place between 3 November 2014 and 8 February 2015. It was a joint initiative between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Central Motorway Police Group and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. The police forces involved were West Midlands, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Thames Valley and Hampshire.

    A total of 703 foreign registered vehicles were identified and impounded for non-payment of vehicle excise duty as part of the pilot.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Mark Pritchard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve telecoms connectivity onboard Eurostar trains travelling in tunnels in England.

    Claire Perry

    Neither the Secretary of State, nor HS1 Ltd, which operates the HS1 network on a 30 year government-let concession basis is able to oblige Eurostar to provide wi-fi on its services. This would be a commercial decision for the train operating company concerned.

    HS1 Ltd already provides free wi-fi at St Pancras, Stratford and Ebbsfleet International stations.

    HS1 Ltd has also entered into exploratory conversations with a telecoms supplier to provide a 4G service at all HS1 stations and along the HS1 route, including the tunnels and open route areas. The exploratory work will assess the proposed financing of additional infrastructure required with a decision expected later this year. The Secretary of State has no part to play in this decision-making process.

  • Jo Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Jo Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Cox on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a cross-cabinet position responsible for the protection of civilians abroad who are at risk of mass atrocity crimes.

    Mr David Cameron

    The Government has an established cross-governmental process, overseen by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, that supports international efforts to protect civilians at risk from mass atrocities.

    The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (Mr Duddridge) is responsible for conflict issues and UK policy on the prevention of mass atrocities. The Minister of State, my noble friend the right hon. The Baroness Anelay of St Johns, is responsible for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict in her role as my Special Representative. Baroness Anelay of St Johns is also responsible for UN peacekeeping and the International Criminal Court, and contributes to policy in both these areas.

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also works to ensure that any British Nationals caught up in mass atrocity crimes are supported.

    The Government’s crisis management committee, COBR, also provides a mechanism to manage the cross-government response to such events.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Prime Minister, what steps the Government has taken to meet the conditions set out in the motion passed by the House on 2 December 2015 on ISIL in Syria.

    Mr David Cameron

    I refer the right hon. Member to the oral statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) on 16 December 2015, Official Report, column 1566.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 1.143 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what assessment he has made of the extent of a fraud and claims culture in the motor insurance industry; and what evidence of such a culture he provided to HM Treasury before publication of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015.

    Dominic Raab

    The Government received and analysed data from numerous sources when formulating the announcement in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. The quoted figures were arrived at by combining published industry estimates along with data from government and other sources.

    Government data, compiled by the Compensation Recovery Unit at the Department for Work and Pensions, indicates that claims volumes remain at historically high levels, some 50% higher than in 2006. Over the same period motor accident rates have fallen by around 26%. This is clear evidence that the system is in need of further reform, which is why on 25 November, in his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced tough new measures to control costs and reduce the number of unnecessary whiplash claims.

    The Government will consult on the detail of the new reform package in due course and the consultation document will be accompanied by an impact assessment.

  • Keir Starmer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Keir Starmer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keir Starmer on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government has taken to transpose the EU Directive on Victims’ Rights into UK law.

    Mike Penning

    The Ministry of Justice fully transposed the EU Victims’ Directive 2012/29/EU (the Victims’ Directive) on 16 November 2015. In conjunction with existing legislation, the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims’ Code) is the main mechanism used to transpose the Victims’ Directive into the law of England and Wales.

    The UK government is responsible for transposing the Directive in England and Wales. The Devolved Administrations are also required to implement the Directive under their devolved powers and we have been working closely with them to do so.

    The transposition table which sets out how we have implemented the Victims’ Directive through the Victims’ Code can be found at:

    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1817/pdfs/uksitn_20151817_en.pdf

    In the Queen’s Speech we made a commitment to bring forward measures to increase the rights of victims of crime. Further detail on our plans will be published in due course.

    “