The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the level of public subsidy for train operators in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
Claire Perry
Actual figures for public subsidy are published on the Office of Rail and Road’s (‘ORR’) website at http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/browsereports/1.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Rotheram on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that all railway stations in (a) Liverpool Walton constituency, (b) Liverpool City region and (c) England and Wales are wheelchair accessible.
Claire Perry
Whenever the rail industry carries out infrastructure work at stations it is required to meet the latest UK and EU accessibility standards.
We have also extended the Access for All programme, which will have provided step free access at over 200 stations by 2019. In Liverpool Walton both Fazkerley and Orrel Park have been completed. In the wider Liverpool City area Liverpool Central, Sandhills, Birkenhead North, Formby, Hooton, Meols and Waterloo have also been included in the programme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the electrification schemes for the North TransPennine and Midland Mainline will resume.
Andrew Jones
The work to electrify the North TransPennine and Midland Mainline railways has resumed, as announced on 30th September 2015 by the Secretary of State, as part of Sir Peter Hendy’s work to reset Network Rail’s Upgrade Programme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from the Cabinet Secretary on airport capacity.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Ministers receive advice from officials on a wide range of issues.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his oral evidence to the Transport Select Committee on Volkswagen Group emissions violations on 12 October 2015, Q88, HC 495, on what date he sent his letter to Commissioner Bieńkowska; whether he has received a reply to that letter; and if will place a copy of his reply in the Library.
Andrew Jones
A letter was sent to Commissioner Bienkowska on 22 September.
Commissioner Bienkowska wrote on 14 October to Ministers of the Competitiveness Council, Transport Ministers and Environment Ministers. In this letter she set out the actions the Commission are taking.
I am pleased to place a copy of the 22 September letter in the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role the North East Combined Authority has in relation to the Northern Rail franchise.
Andrew Jones
When known as Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) (trading as NEXUS), the North East Combined Authority were one of five PTEs who are co-signatories of the current Northern Interim Franchise Agreement that commenced in 2014.
The North East Combined Authority is one of the 29 authorities that make up Rail North Ltd. As part of the new franchise competition they were involved in helping develop the Invitation To Tender for the next Northern Franchise, which is expected to begin in April 2016.
Going forward the Secretary of State will sign the franchise agreement, but the management of the next Northern Franchise is being devolved to the Department for Transport and Rail North partnership.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11759, if he will place a copy of the report compiled by EY in connection with changes to Network Rail in the Library.
Claire Perry
The work referenced in Question 11759 was commissioned in order to inform a range of policy options. This work is ongoing, and therefore we will not be placing it in the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if it is his policy to make available proposed new powers to regulate bus networks to local authorities that do not have a metro mayor.
Andrew Jones
Local Authorities already have the powers to regulate their bus networks through the Quality Contract Scheme process set out in the Transport Act 2000, as amended by the Local Transport Act 2008.
We have now signed ground-breaking deals with Greater Manchester, Cornwall, and Sheffield, in which we committed to providing them with powers to franchise their bus services. The Buses Bill will be introduced later in the first session and will provide the powers for local transport authorities to regulate their local bus networks through a franchising process subject to agreement from government.
Government has real ambition to improve public transport in other areas too, and our devolution plans go beyond Manchester, Cornwall and Sheffield. If other places want to come forward with attractive devolution deals that include bus franchising we will consider them.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11601, which was the senior committee of his Department that met on 23 March 2015 and was referred to in that Answer.
Claire Perry
The senior committee referred to in the answer of 16 October to question 11601 is the Board Investment and Commercial Committee.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 September 2015 to Question 10029, which schemes referred to in that Answer have been paused by Network Rail.
Claire Perry
The Secretary of State announced on 25 June 2015 the pause of work on Midland Main Line electrification and TransPennine electrification.
On 30 September 2015 he announced that work on these schemes would resume.
Whilst Sir Peter Hendy completes his review of Network Rail’s Enhancements programme, the efficient and cost effective delivery of other projects is a matter for Network Rail to manage.