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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency received from charges for accessing records in each year from 2009-10 to 2014-15; and how many such requests were processed in each such year.

Andrew Jones

The total income received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) from charges for requests for vehicle and driver information in each year from 2009/10 to 2014/15 is shown below:

2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15
£9,414,000	£9,412,000	£10,354,000	£11,180,000	£12,878,000	£15,021,000

The table below shows the number of chargeable requests made to the DVLA for vehicle and driver information in each year from 2009/10 to 2014/15:

2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15
2,861,752	3,248,100	4,251,234	4,624,887	5,362,290	6,315,160

It is important to note that although the DVLA is permitted to charge a fee for the release of information, it is not permitted to profit from it. Fees are set to recover the related administrative costs for the different types of requests for information and the fee levels are regularly reviewed as the cost base changes over time. This means that it is the applicant and not the taxpayer who funds this activity.

There are a range of organisations outside of Government that legitimately request data from the DVLA. These range from insurance companies and finance companies to toll chargers. The DVLA also supply anonymised data to companies providing vehicle check services to improve road safety, consumer protection and deter vehicle crime.

The number of requests for data have increased during this period for a number of reasons including changes to car park management and the introduction of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 which prohibited wheelclamping without lawful authority. Employers also need to check employee driving entitlement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which Highways England capital programme schemes are behind schedule.

Andrew Jones

Progress is being made on all the major schemes listed in Highways England’s Delivery Plan and it is on track by the end of March 2016 to have started construction on 5 schemes and opened 5 schemes – all scheduled to start or open in 2015/16. Naturally, within this significant £15 billion investment programme of 112 schemes within the current road period, a small minority of schemes may occasionally experience variations in timescale or in the precise form of the solution.

In particular there are two schemes where the schedule has been revised.

For A63 Castle Street progress of the main scheme has been delayed in order to investigate more fully the environmental impacts caused by the scheme and how these can be best mitigated. However, the construction of Princes Quay footbridge is on track to begin in April. My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State has also kept the Rt Hon Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson MP), in whose constituency this scheme is, regularly appraised of the relevant issues.

After considering responses to the recent public consultation for the M54 / M6 / M6 Toll, an announcement of the preferred route has been delayed in order to allow a reappraisal of the options.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what Network Rail maintenance, renewal or enhancement works that were planned to be carried out under blockade during the 2015-16 Christmas and New Year period were cancelled or deferred.

Claire Perry

Network Rail has advised that of the schemes at the 80 highest priority worksites over the 2015/16 Christmas/New Year period, only one was cancelled – planned bridge works at Old Lodge Lane at Purley, which were cancelled due to high winds.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 7 of Directly Operated Railways Annual Report and Accounts for 2014-15, for which 10 franchises Directly Operated Railways prepared contingency plans for a potential transfer; and when each such contingency plan was completed.

Claire Perry

As stated in their Annual Report for 2014-15, Directly Operated Railways (DOR) have been working with the Department to support the rail franchising programme. In particular, they undertook contingency planning in respect of 10 franchises between autumn 2013 and autumn 2015. These were:

Great Western (DA1)*

Great Western (DA2)*

Northern

Greater Anglia

First Capital Connect

South Eastern

Trans Pennine Express

East Midlands Trains

London Midland

Cross Country

This contingency planning work was concluded or stopped at the point that franchise contracts were awarded to the relevant private sector company. Contingency planning started by DOR in respect of the Cross Country franchise will be taken forward by the Department in due course.

^{*there were two projects undertaken in respect of the Great Western Franchise as there were two separate franchise contracts awarded during the period.}

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of ticket machines were fitted with labels advertising ticket offices of each train operating company on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Claire Perry

Under the terms of the Ticketing Settlement Agreement

“the opening hours of each Ticket Office must be prominently displayed at a location nearby that is accessible to members of the public at all times unless the Authority agrees otherwise” (s6-16, p.144).

It is for the operator to decide where the times are displayed. Therefore, the Department has no information as to how many would be on ticket machines.