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  • Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a national road safety strategy.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government has not set road safety targets for local authorities or the police, and is not considering reinstating them. We do not believe that further persuasion is needed on the importance of road safety through “Whitehall knows best” diktats. However, local authorities and the police are free to set their own targets if they find this useful.

    The Conservative Manifesto 2015 had a commitment to reduce the number of cyclists and other road users killed or injured on our roads every year. We are working closely with road safety groups to consider what more can be done and we believe that every death is a tragedy and is one too many.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on the application of working time regulations to aircraft maintenance engineers.

    Nick Boles

    All workers subject to the Working Time Regulations, including aircraft maintenance engineers, are entitled to a number of protections. These include entitlement to annual leave and rest breaks, a limit on weekly working hours, and restrictions on night work.

  • Andrew Bridgen – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Andrew Bridgen – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Bridgen on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what provisions are in place to enable airports to ban passengers from their premises; under what circumstances such provisions may be used; and how many passengers were banned from (a) Leeds Bradford International, (b) Belfast International, (c) East Midlands, (d) Edinburgh, (e) Glasgow International, (f) Manchester, (g) Newcastle International, (h) London Gatwick, (i) London Luton, (j) London Stansted and (k) London Heathrow Airport in each year from 2010 to 2015 to date.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    An airport company may prohibit a person from entering the Airport under provisions in their byelaws.

    As this is a matter for the airport concerned the Department does not hold details of any person so prohibited.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans for portable evidential breath-test machines to be made available for use by the police to tackle drink driving.

    Mike Penning

    We will type approve Mobile Evidential Breath Test Instruments (MEBTIs) as soon as possible. Type approval is a complex process and relies on the submission by manufacturers of instruments which then perform satisfactorily during testing. The Home Office has no control over these factors.

  • Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to ensure that direct rail services between Hull, Leeds and Manchester continue regardless of which parts of that route are electrified.

    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.

  • Louise Ellman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Louise Ellman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Ellman on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to his Danish counterpart on reopening the inquest into the death of commercial driver Stephen O’Malley in 2012.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    No. The death of Mr O’Malley was not a maritime accident as defined in law, and is considered to be a health and safety at work incident. It therefore falls outside the responsibilities of the Department for Transport and its Danish counterpart.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate his Department has made of the forecast return on investment from the High Speed 2 project; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Analysis presented in the HS2 Economic Case published in October 2013 calculated that the benefit cost ratio (BCR) of HS2 is valued at 2.3 for the full Y-network, including wider economic impacts. Therefore, over £2 worth of benefits are expected for every £1 spent which represents high value for money.

  • Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects new rolling stock to be introduced on the forthcoming Transpennine Express franchise; and whether that rolling stock is planned to be diesel or electric powered.

    Andrew Jones

    Bids are currently being evaluated for the TransPennine Express (TPE) franchise and we expect to announce the winning bidder and its rolling stock plans by the end of the year. When the detailed plans for TransPennine electrification are confirmed, the Department will work with the TPE franchisee to ensure that the necessary rolling stock is put into place; this is expected to take place during the franchise term.

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to involve disabled people in the design of better access to public transport.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department sponsors the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC). DPTAC has a Chair and 12 members with a range of impairments. It advises the government on transport legislation, regulations and guidance and on the transport needs of disabled people, ensuring disabled people have the same access to transport as everyone else.

  • Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the efficiency savings his Department has gained from the reorganisation of the Highways Agency to Highways England; and what the budget of that body was in each of the last five years.

    Andrew Jones

    It is too early to estimate the efficiency savings gained from the reorganisation of Highways England which was created on 1 April 2015. The Department for Transport published the Roads Reform Programme Evaluation Framework in March. This includes a clear expectation that the evaluation will be carried out over a number of years, given the number of the changes made. In addition the Office of Rail and Road, will continue to monitor the performance of Highways England including efficiencies. The table below shows the capital expenditure of Highways England, with resource spend and the depreciation of road asset value.

    Resource (excl.depreciation)(£m)

    Resource Depreciation (£m)

    Capital (£m)

    2014/15

    1,000

    866

    1,823

    2013/14

    1,012

    929

    1,425

    2012/13

    1,038

    914

    1,034

    2011/12

    1,145

    870

    1,288

    2010/11

    1,214

    775

    1,654