Tag: Lilian Greenwood

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) male and (b) female employees (i) his Department, (ii) Network Rail, (iii) Highways England, (iv) HS2 Ltd, (v) the Office of Rail and Road, (vi) the DVLA, (vii) the Drive Vehicle Standards Agency and (viii) the VCA has.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The numbers of male and female employees as at 31^st March 2016 are as follows:

	(a)	(b)
Organisation	Male	Female
I. DfT(c)	1,267	798
II. Network Rail	31,658	5,696
III. Highways England	2,574	1,297
IV. HS2 Ltd	446	307
V. Office of Rail and Road	192	120
VI. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)	2,403	3,803
VII. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)	3,199	1,305
VIII. Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)	114	42

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-05-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s expenditure was on external room or venue hire in each year from 2010-11 to 2015-16; and what the proportion of such expenditure was on such hire in London in each of those years.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The following table shows the expenditure on external room and venue hire in the financial years listed:

Financial year
2010-11	£859,964
2011-12	£455,641
2012-13	£663,479
2013-14	£741,825
2014-15	£797,156
2015-16	£940,775

Over the above 6 years the average annual expenditure was £743,140. The spend in 2009-10 was £819,612.

The response covers the core department and three of its four executive agencies (Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). The Vehicle Certification Agency’s finance system does not separately identify expenditure on room and venue hire.

It is not possible to identify the proportion of this expenditure incurred in London.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the InterCity East Coast franchisee expects to introduce free WiFi for standard class passengers on trains on routes under that franchise.

Claire Perry

Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) currently provide free wifi to Standard Class passengers for at least the first 15 minutes of use. They also provide free wifi to Standard Anytime ticket holders who have purchased their tickets through corporate sales channels. By end of October 2016, VTEC will provide free wifi to all customers who book through the Franchise Operator’s website. VTEC are currently in negotiations with suppliers to provide free wifi by end of 2016 at all VTEC managed stations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 21 July 2015, to Question 7665, what average number of pilings per shift was achieved by Network Rail’s High Output Plant System train during (a) July to September 2015, (b) October to December 2015, (c) January to March 2016 and (d) April to May 2016.

Claire Perry

The following information has been provided by Network Rail:

The average number of pilings per shift achieved by Network Rail’s High Output Plant System train during the following months was as follows:

a) July to September 2015 – 4.9 piles per shift.

b) October to December 2015 – 7.0 piles per shift.

c) January to March 2016 – 4.7 piles per shift.

d) April to May 2016 – 6.5 piles per shift.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of Clause 21 of the Bus Services Bill on the ability of local authorities in England to acquire a shareholding in existing bus companies.

Andrew Jones

Clause 21 of the Bill restricts the ability of certain authorities in England from forming companies for the purposes of providing local bus services. It does not, however, restrict such authorities from acquiring shares in existing bus companies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39849, what his Department’s expenditure other than Network Rail expenditure was on the level crossing reform programme in the last Parliament; and how much such expenditure is budgeted in this Parliament.

Claire Perry

Capital expenditure on level crossings is a matter for Network Rail. The department does not hold a separate budget for this.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2016 to Question 40827, what his Department’s revenue expenditure other than Network Rail expenditure was on the level crossing reform programme in the last Parliament; and how much such expenditure is budgeted for during the current Parliament.

Paul Maynard

There is a dedicated, ring-fenced, fund for Network Rail’s work to improve and close level crossings. As is usual, the Department’s work on the policy underpinning the level crossing reform programme forms part of a larger budget for railway safety and wider issues and is not therefore separately identifiable.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what publications his private office subscribes to.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Secretary of State for Transport’s Private Office does not subscribe to any publications.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-12-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Gospel Oak to Barking Line electrification programme includes electrification of that line’s freight links.

Claire Perry

The Gospel Oak–Barking electrification programme includes plans to electrify the freight links. The timing and funding for these links is being reviewed in conjunction with Sir Peter Hendy’s re-plan of Network Rail enhancements and the revised cost estimates of all electrification projects. The main scheme continues to be on target for completion in 2017.

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.}