The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-11-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they still intend to publish their Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy in summer 2016.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Department for Transport is in the early stages of developing its first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) with the intention to publish by summer 2016 following a public consultation on the draft in spring 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they still plan to progress the South East Flexible Ticketing programme; and if not, why not.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The South East Flexible Ticketing (SEFT) programme is proceeding with contractual obligations for five train operators who run commuter services into London. Together, these five train operators cover 73% of the annual season ticket market. We are discussing with the Rail Delivery Group and the remaining train operators the best and quickest way to deliver smart and more flexible ticketing for commuters in the south east.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-03-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 11 February (HL5795), when NHS England’s plan for future hepatitis C funding will be finalised, how many patients will be able to access hepatitis C treatment via NHS England’s plan for future hepatitis C funding, and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of NHS England’s plan once it is finalised.
Lord Prior of Brampton
Based on the modelling produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NHS England has set out the NHS planning assumptions for hepatitis C in March 2016 for the financial year 2016/17. We understand that this has been shared with Members of Parliament and noble Lords, operational delivery networks, pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders.
An expected 6,500 patients will have been treated for the 12 months ending March 2016. NHS England and providers are planning for 10,000 patients to be treated in the 12 months from April 2016 to March 2017.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-06-29.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the political and human rights situation in Uganda following the election earlier this year.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
I commend the people of Uganda for turning out in large numbers to cast their vote on 18 February 2016 and for their determination to participate in the electoral process. President Museveni was inaugurated on 12 May 2016. With the new cabinet in place, it is important for the Government of Uganda to refocus its efforts on domestic and regional issues. The British Government has raised concerns with the Government of Uganda about the conduct of the elections and the post-election environment, most recently during Article 8 discussions on 28 June 2016. These include the continuing harassment and intimidation of members of the opposition and journalists by the Uganda Police Force.
With international partners, we seek to work with the Government of Uganda to ensure human rights are respected in the country and to aid substantive electoral reform. Where human rights disputes are raised these must be addressed through appropriate legal channels.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what work they are undertaking to implement the Airports Commission recommendations for surface transport improvements to Stansted to make the best use of existing capacity at London’s airports, to encourage more people to travel by rail, and to reduce emissions.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In its National Infrastructure Plan of December 2013, the government confirmed that it would be taking forward the surface access measures recommended by the Airports Commission to make best use of existing capacity at London airports.
For Stansted, work to examine potential upgrades to rail infrastructure between London, Stansted and Cambridge has been taken forward by the West Anglia Taskforce, which was established by the government and the Mayor of London to consider this issue and the benefits it might generate.
The Taskforce published its recommendations and a suggested timetable for action in July.
Rail services to Stansted will also be enhanced through the new East Anglia franchise. This will bring a number of improvements for passengers travelling to the airport, including new trains with free Wi-Fi from February 2019 and a minimum 12.5% reduction in anytime return fares and anytime single fares on the Stansted Express by early 2017. By early 2018, passengers will be able to purchase tickets via a dedicated Stansted Express website, to be delivered to their mobile devices for validation. There is flexibility within the new franchise for the train operator to introduce services to different parts of London if market demand for this emerges.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-11-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether their timetable for the HS2 Bill to achieve Royal Assent by the end of 2016 remains achievable.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The progress of the Bill is in the hands of Parliament and Royal Assent by December 2016 remains an achievable target.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been spent to date on planning and developing the South East Flexible Ticketing programme.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
To date, £37.64m has been spent on the South East Flexible Ticketing programme. This has facilitated investment by five train operators accounting for 73% of the annual season ticket market in the south east. Commuters on c2c and GTR can already use smartcards on their journeys into London and within the Transport for London boundary. Abellio Greater Anglia and South West Trains will follow early in 2016 and Southeastern later in the year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-03-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 11 February (HL5795), what is the value of payments made to Operational Delivery Networks (ODN) via the Commissioning and Quality Innovation payment network in (1) total, and (2) by ODN, for each of the last three financial years.
Lord Prior of Brampton
Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) provide expert specialist oversight of prescribing decisions on hepatitis C. They were established in August 2015, therefore funding information is only available for 2015/16.
In 2015/16, funding has been approximately £2.5 million. The majority of this amount has been via a central allocation.
It is not possible to confirm the payments made to each ODN for commercial reasons.
NHS England is funding ODNs via Commissioning Quality and Innovation in 2016/17 and 2017/18.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-06-29.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government by what date they expect fairer charges for open access operators on railways to be introduced by the Office of Rail and Road.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Setting the framework for track access charges is a matter for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). As the Secretary of State made clear in his Written statement on 17 March, the Government would like to see reforms as soon as possible to ensure a level playing field between operators, and that open access operators pay a fairer contribution to the costs they impose on the network. ORR are considering options as part of their Periodic Review 2018 process, and we consider that any changes to the charging framework could be in place for the start of Control Period 6 in 2019.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-09-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of which specific rail service improvements the new East Anglia rail franchises would deliver for (1) Stansted Airport, and (2) Cambridge.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Under the new franchise agreement passengers travelling to and from Stansted Airport will benefit from new trains with free Wi-Fi from February 2019, and a minimum 12.5% reduction in anytime return fares and anytime single fares on the Stansted Express by early 2017. Almost all hourly services between Norwich and Cambridge are to be extended to provide a direct service to and from Stansted Airport.
Cambridge Station will similarly benefit from new trains with free Wi-Fi from February 2019. Additional train services are an earlier first service from Cambridge to Norwich and an additional evening service from Norwich to Cambridge.
Cambridge Station will be provided with a significant refurbishment. This will include construction of a pavilion to include a customer waiting area, train information displays and ticketing offices and ticket vending machines at the entrance to the station. Cambridge will also be provided with 1000 additional secure cycle spaces.