Tag: Andy McDonald

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to his Department was of each re-tendering exercise held for franchises for (a) long distance and (b) regional passenger rail services in each year since 2005-06.

Paul Maynard

Prior to the re-launch of the Franchising Programme in spring 2013, the costs of different franchising projects were not individually recorded.

The cost of each re-franchising project since the re-launch is as follows:

Franchise	Cost (£M)	Notes
Essex Thameside	4.815	1
Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern	7.288
East Coast	8.429	2
Northern	8.668 (to date)	3
TransPennine Express	7.577 (to date)	3
East Anglia	7.413 (to date)	3

These figures include adviser costs (financial, technical and legal advisers), pay costs for the project team, “non-pay” costs (such as bidder day seminars, public consultations, etc), and VAT where applicable, for the duration of the procurements.

The (admin) sums invested in competent staff and advisors are dwarfed by the (Resource) SPRS benefits to the Department – £200 for every pound spent.

Notes

NOTE 1: The Essex Thameside figure represents the work done after the relaunch of the Franchising Programme. There was a significant amount of work completed prior to the pausing of the programme in autumn 2012 which is not included here.

NOTE 2: The costs for the refranchising of the Intercity East Coast Franchise were not charged to the public purse, but were covered by the Performance Bond that National Express put forward following its default of the previous East Coast contract.

NOTE 3: The figures for Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE) and East Anglia are the latest figures (as at the end of August 2016). East Anglia is still a ‘live’ project. Whilst Northern and TPE have concluded, there are still some residual costs that may affect the final figures.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2015-11-17.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the annual change in tax revenue from extending the national living wage to those aged between 18 and 25.

Mr David Gauke

Younger workers tend to have less experience than older workers in the labour market, and so there is a risk that too high a wage rate may make them relatively less attractive to employers. So, to minimise any negative impact on employment of younger workers, the National Living Wage is limited to those 25 and over. The Government has not therefore made an estimate of what the fiscal impact of this policy change would be.

The Office for Budgetary Responsibility estimate that, by 2020-21, the National Living Wage will increase income tax and NICs receipts by around £0.1bn, as set out in Table B.3 in of their July 2015 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. They assume that, by 2020-21, the overall impact of the policy on the public finances is to reduce public sector net borrowing by £0.2bn.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding the Government provides to Rail North.

Andrew Jones

The Rail North Partnership brings together activities that were previously undertaken by DfT and Local Transport Authorities in the North. Accordingly the Government has agreed that £500,000 p.a. of existing annual grant funding provided by the Department to the North of England Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) and Combined Authorities can be used to fund Rail North. In addition, the Department funds staffing costs that it would have otherwise incurred itself.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-09-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the feasibility of the contractor delivering all contracted functionality of the first deployment traffic management system for the rail operating centre at Romford by November 2016; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Maynard

It is a matter for Network Rail to assess the capability of the contractors they appoint to deliver their deployment of traffic management systems. Network Rail have confirmed to us that the commissioning into service of the traffic management system for the rail operating centre at Romford will be re-planned for next year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether bidders for the next West Midlands regional rail franchise will be able to remove seats from rolling stock in order to increase passenger carrying capacity; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Maynard

The Invitation to Tender for the West Midlands franchise allows bidders to propose alternative layouts which could include fewer seats and more standing space for services which operate on the ‘Cross-City’ line in Birmingham. This option is included in response to the West Midlands franchise consultation, where there was a particularly strong response from respondents that use this line about changing the current 3+2 seating arrangement to provide wider aisles and more spacious and comfortable standing areas. However, if bidders do propose changes to the seating layouts, they would need to meet certain criteria for this to be permissible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2015-11-17.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the document, Fixing the Foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation, Cm 9098, published in July 2015, if he will publish his Department’s analysis linking changes to tax credits with increased productivity.

Mr David Gauke

The Paper, “Fixing the Foundations: creating a more prosperous economy” focuses not on the link between welfare reforms and productivity but instead on how ‘a productive economy must make the most of its labour force and effectively mobilise people into jobs’.

This governments tax and welfare policies are supporting this end.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he, Ministers or officials of his Department have had with Govia Thameslink Railway on indemnifying Govia Thameslink Railway from losses incurred as a result of industrial action; and what the dates and outcomes of those discussions were.

Claire Perry

The Franchise Agreement does not provide any indemnity to Govia Thameslink Railway for any such losses incurred as a result of Industrial Action, and no discussions have taken place.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2016 to Question 40016, on unmanned air vehicles, if he will place in the Library a copy of the memorandum of understanding between his Department, the Home Office, the Civil Aviation Authority and the police.

Mr John Hayes

A copy of the memorandum of understanding will be placed in the House library.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to increase passenger carrying capacity on Inter City West Coast services between cities in the West Midlands.

Paul Maynard

We expect potential bidders for the next Inter City West Coast (ICWC) franchise to plan their train services to meet the needs of their passengers and the wider network. To make sure the Department’s specification best reflects the needs of the passengers and stakeholders of the franchise a public consultation on the franchise was run from 10 May to 2 August this year. This sought the public’s and stakeholders’ views and priorities on a number of areas of the franchise specification. The consultation acknowledged that capacity for additional train services on the West Coast Mainline is limited and sought views on how the franchise could cater for growth.

The responses will help inform us about what we will ask for in the tender documents from the future franchise operator and will be provided to bidders for the franchise to inform their responses. We are now reviewing and analysing the consultation responses and will publish a summary in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2015-11-17.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the document, Fixing the Foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation, Cm 9098, published in July 2015, if he will publish his Department’s analysis linking the introduction of a Youth Obligation for 18 to 25 year olds on universal credit with increased productivity.

Mr David Gauke

The Government is introducing a Youth Obligation for 18-21s on Universal Credit, to help them into sustainable employment.

From day 1 of their claim, young people will participate in an intensive support regime in return for their benefit. After 6 months, we will expect them to apply for an apprenticeship, traineeship, gain work-based skills, or go on a work placement.

As set out in “Fixing the Foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation”, this is part of the Government’s plan for achieving full employment. The Government wants to ensure that young people are given the support, skills and experience to move into work, fulfil their potential and make a contribution to a productive economy.