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  • Ruth Smeeth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ruth Smeeth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Smeeth on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff are employed by Network Rail to deal with contractual interface issues.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail has 68 positions based across its eight routes with various responsibilities for managing commercial and regulated relationships with industry customers (the various operators). These roles are important in ensuring effective partnerships between Network Rail and the wider industry in order to meet the needs of passengers.

  • Zac Goldsmith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Zac Goldsmith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Zac Goldsmith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory results for the nitrogen dioxide levels at Pippins Primary School, Colnbrook, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the health of pupils and staff at that school of the proposals by the Davies Commission to expand Heathrow Airport.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Government is currently considering the very detailed analysis contained in the Airports Commission’s final report.

    Any decision regarding future airport capacity will take into account the Government’s overall plan to improve air quality and its commitment to comply with EU air quality standards.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether officials in his Department were acting on his authority when they instructed Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road on 26 March 2015 on how the further assessment of Control Period 5’s cost estimates was to be carried out.

    Claire Perry

    On 23 March 2015, a senior Department for Transport (DfT) committee commissioned Network Rail, the Office of Rail and Road, and DfT officials to jointly assess the whole enhancements portfolio and provide a more robust estimate of costs. Senior officials from all three organisations met on 26 March 2015 to discuss how we could work together to undertake this piece of work.

    The Secretary of State did not specifically instruct this work nor was he part of these two meetings.

  • Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he has planned over the next six months with maritime training colleges to discuss the recommendations of the Maritime Growth Study.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Government engages regularly with representative bodies responsible for maritime training. These training representatives, including some maritime training colleges, contributed to the evidence gathering process that informed the Maritime Growth Study. As several recommendations from the Study focus on maritime training provision we intend to keep relevant training bodies fully informed and involved as we begin to take these forward.

  • Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the current status is of the Shipping Strategic Plans for the (a) shipping, (b) ports and (c) business services sectors of the UK maritime industry; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Shipping and Ports Strategic Partnership Plans are active and remain helpful tools for government and industry to agree joint priorities and actions and to provide a cohesive platform for future strategic development. The Maritime Business Services Strategic Partnership Plan is agreed with Industry and is due to be published imminently.

  • Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the supply of UK (a) domiciled and (b) trained seafarers to the shipping industry.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department provides support for seafarer training through the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme, the budget for which was increased by 25% to £15million in September 2013. A company or group which elects for the Tonnage Tax is required, each year, to recruit one new officer trainee for every fifteen officer posts in its fleet. We have additionally introduced an option, from 1 October 2015, which allows companies or groups in Tonnage Tax to recruit and train three Able Seafarer ratings each year in place of one trainee officer.

    The industry and the Government are working together to encourage and support the next generation of seafarers and are developing a range of apprenticeships for maritime occupations at sea and ashore. We support the work of the Merchant Navy Training Board and SeaVision in promoting maritime careers, and we collaborated with Maritime UK in the production of an “Open for Maritime Skills” pamphlet. However, the recruitment and training of merchant seafarers is principally a matter for the shipping industry itself.

    The Maritime Growth Study, chaired by Lord Mountevans, was published on 7 September 2015 and contained a number of recommendations for government and industry on skills, including to help maintain the UK’s future supply of seafarers. The Government will formally respond to the Study by the end of the year.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2015 to Question 9602, which external organisations received payments from his Department in connection with developing the policies referred to in that Answer; and what amount was paid to each such organisation.

    Claire Perry

    EY, previously known as Ernst & Young, was engaged in developing the work referred to in Question 9602, and was paid £230k (excluding VAT) in respect of that work.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost is to (a) his Department and (b) Network Rail of unpausing electrification of the Midland Main Line and the North TransPennine route.

    Claire Perry

    Unpausing electrification of the Midland Mainline and the North TransPennine route has not caused the Department to incur any immediate additional costs.

    With regard to Network Rail’s costs, Midland Mainline electrification was in the delivery phase at the time of pause and Network Rail are still working to understand the costs associated with the decision to unpause. The North TransPennine route is still in development and costs were not affected by the decision to recommence electrification.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the International Transport Workers Federation’s Maritime Labour Convention compliance inspections on international shipping in 2014.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is not aware of the findings of the International Transport Workers Federation’s Maritime Labour Convention compliance inspections on international shipping in 2014. However, you may wish to note that the MCA works very closely with The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). When ITF inspectors have concerns on board, they notify the MCA who subsequently carry out a review of the issues and carry out a Port State Control inspection, if deemed necessary. This would either result in deficiencies being raised or the ship being detained until satisfactory corrective actions are initiated in response to the deficiencies raised.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will raise with (a) his ministerial colleagues and (b) the International Labour Organisation the extent of non-compliance amongst open registers with the minimum standards for seafarers’ rights established in the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carry out Port State Control inspections on board foreign vessels in UK waters. The Port State Control regime has a requirement of no more favourable treatment to other vessels many of which are registered in these so called “open registers”.