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  • John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what levels of stock his Department holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.

    Stephen Crabb

    As a small Government Department the Wales Office does not keep large amounts of stationery or other office consumables. The level of stock is monitored regularly, and replenished as necessary to meet business needs.

    The Wales Office uses IT services under Ministry of Justice contracts which include the supply of printer cartridges. Cartridges are ordered automatically and we hold no reserves.

  • John Whittingdale – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    John Whittingdale – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Whittingdale on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received about the implications of the proposed EU Package Travel Directive on insolvency protection for consumers; and if he will make a statement.

    Jenny Willott

    BIS officials are in regular contact with a variety of organisations which have a particular interest in the implications of the proposed Directive, including the elements covering insolvency protection for consumers. Those organisations are among the 42 which responded to this Department’s Call for Evidence on the Proposal for a New Directive on Package Travel and Assisted Travel Arrangements. Responses commenting on the insolvency protection proposals were received from a wide range of organisations, representing the interests of the travel trade, consumers, tourism, and legal firms.

  • Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen O’Brien on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of increases in passenger numbers (a) nationally and (b) on the West Coast Main Line over the next 10 years.

    Stephen Hammond

    The total train passenger numbers is forecast to grow from an estimated 1,530 million in 2013-14 to 1,842 million by 2023-24.

    The Department has made no forecast of increases in passenger numbers on the West Coast Main Line over the next 10 years. Chapter 4 of Network Rail’s West Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy sets out anticipated changes in demand to 2024/25 and is available here:

    http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse documents/rus documents/route utilisation strategies/west coast main line/westcoastmainlinerus.pdf

  • Clive Betts – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Clive Betts – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Betts on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support the hydrogen fuelling market; and when he expects to have completed them.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    As set out in Driving the Future Today our strategy document published last year, the Government is committed to the move to ultra-low emission vehicles. We recognise the economic opportunities for the UK that this transition provides as well its potential contribution to cutting the emissions from road transport.

    The Government’s approach to this agenda has been consistently technology neutral and we have been active participants in UKH2Mobility. This is a joint industry-Government project evaluating the potential for hydrogen as a transport fuel and the scope to make the UK an early market for the commercial deployment of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) from 2015 onwards. The UKH2Mobility project is ongoing and both Government and industry participants are working together to consider the steps needed to secure the benefits of moving to hydrogen as a transport fuel for the UK. This includes the clear contribution that studies have shown FCEVs can make to improving air quality in the UK. We have undertaken no specific research on the impact of FCEVs on air quality in London.

  • Cheryl Gillan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cheryl Gillan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the safeguarding directions in relation to High Speed 2 were last updated; and if he will publish the maps relating to that update.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The safeguarding directions in relation to High Speed 2 were last updated on 24 October 2013. The updated maps are published on the High Speed 2 Limited website at the following link:

    http://www.hs2.org.uk/safeguarding?sg_link=576

  • Cheryl Gillan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cheryl Gillan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish details of who considered the proposals for a property bond in relation to High Speed 2; and what the reasons were for rejecting that proposal.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Secretary of State considered the option of a property bond for Phase One of HS2 and has ruled out this option for the reasons set out in Property Compensation Consultation 2013 for the London-West Midlands HS2 route: Decision Document published on 9 April 2014.

  • Bill Esterson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Bill Esterson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many coastguard operations room staff have applied for both new posts in the new coastguard structure and voluntary redundancy.

    Stephen Hammond

    As at 14 April 2014, of those Coastguards currently working in a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, 86 have applied for both new posts in the new coastguard structure and voluntary redundancy, 140 have applied for voluntary redundancy only and 128 have applied for a new post in the new coastguard structure only.

  • Cheryl Gillan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cheryl Gillan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy that the compensation consultation and trial scheme in relation to High Speed 2 should be published by the end of 2014.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Following the Secretary of State’s announcement on 9 April 2014 of decisions regarding HS2 London to West Midlands property compensation, it is our intention to consult on additional cash payment mechanisms over summer 2014 and to announce the way forward by the end of 2014.

  • Bill Esterson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Bill Esterson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many coastguard operations room staff have applied for voluntary redundancy.

    Stephen Hammond

    As at 14 April 2014, of those Coastguards currently working in a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, 86 have applied for both new posts in the new coastguard structure and voluntary redundancy, 140 have applied for voluntary redundancy only and 128 have applied for a new post in the new coastguard structure only.

  • Bill Esterson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Bill Esterson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how often and when each coastguard station has been under-staffed in the last two years.

    Stephen Hammond

    The following table shows the number of occasions each Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed at below risk assessed levels over the last two years by month.

    Where there are specific issues at a MRCC Her Majesty’s Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.