The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the universal credit programme was subject to Project Assessment Reviews instead of Gateway Reviews.
Priti Patel
The Department is following the procedures for the assurance and support of major projects outlined in ‘HM Treasury the Major Project approval and assurance guidance’ introduced from April 2011. More details can be found in the link below.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s plans are for long-term local sustainable transport funding.
Andrew Jones
All future budgets, including those for sustainable transport, remain subject to Spending Review negotiations. Further information will be made available after the outcome of the Spending Review is announced on 25 November.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to fund Bikeability beyond 2015.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Funding for Bikeability is currently confirmed until the end of March 2016. We will take a decision on future funding for the Bikeability programme beyond March 2016 following the outcome of the Spending Review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of how many subsidised bus routes have been withdrawn since 2010.
Andrew Jones
The provision of bus services that require subsidy is a matter for individual English local authorities, in the light of their other spending priorities. Latest figures (2013-14) show that £318m a year was spent by local authorities (outside London) doing so.
My Department also provides around £40m of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) funding directly to English local authorities to help deliver bus services. This central funding has been ring-fenced until 2016-17.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to increase the frequency of train services to north-east Essex along the Great Eastern Main Line.
Claire Perry
As with all competitions, after running a public consultation to help specify services, we have published the Invitation To Tender which sets out the minimum service specifications for the next East Anglia franchise. This asks bidders to set out detailed proposals on what improvements for passengers they will deliver. This approach allowsbidders the flexibility to design the best way of delivering or exceeding the specifications.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Hollobone on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for replacement of the HST 125 trains on the Midland mainline.
Claire Perry
The Department considers that franchisees are normally best placed to procure the rolling stock that they require to deliver the necessary levels of service and capacity. We expect the competition for the next East Midlands long-term franchise to deliver those improvements to the rolling stock that are required.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of how many (a) drivers and (b) drivers under 25 were using black box technology in each of the last five years.
Andrew Jones
The Department for Transport has not made any such estimates. There are a number of behavioural, educational and technological interventions that have the potential to help improve young driver safety. We need better evidence about what works best, so we’re working with insurance companies to see how we can assess the impact of telematics products on young driver safety.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the contribution that the Hoo Green to Bamfurlong spur of High Speed 2 is likely to make to reducing capacity constraints on the West Coast Main Line; and what account that estimate takes of (a) rail freight and (b) passenger services to Warrington Bank Quay and elsewhere.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Network Rail has identified[1] that crowding issues on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) mean that, whilst there is the potential to run a small number of additional services, the WCML will be effectively full by 2024. The lack of capacity will become even more acute beyond 2024 as demand continues to grow. This will negatively affect both freight and passenger services. The western leg of HS2 Phase Two alleviates these capacity constraints in the Warrington area.
[1] Network Rail: West Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his policy to require the new TransPennine Express franchise to include direct Hull, Leeds and Manchester services at the same frequency as is currently provided.
Andrew Jones
The Government recognises the value that passengers attach to direct services in preference to having to change trains.
The specification for the new TransPennine Express franchise, which starts in April 2016, requires the future franchisee to continue to operate through services between Hull and Manchester. The Government’s response to the consultation on the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, published in February, made clear that decisions on the post-electrification service pattern for Hull would be taken during the life of the new franchises. In the meantime, the specifications for the new franchises will provide Hull passengers with an improved weekday evening service back from Manchester, a full hourly all-day service to/from York, and additional trains to/from Scarborough.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsty Blackman on 2015-10-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, for what reason his Department’s three most recently published quarterly returns were all published on the same day.
David Mundell
Transparency information for the period July 2014-March 2015 was published on 15 October as the information was ready for publication.