Tag: Lilian Greenwood

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s expenditure on the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) was in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15; and what his Department’s projected expenditure on the BSOG is in 2015-16.

Andrew Jones

Total expenditure on the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15 in accrual terms and rounded to the nearest £million is set out below.

2010-11 £445m

2011-12 £441m

2012-13 £344m

2013-14 £291m

2014/15 £253m

Since 1 October 2013, the BSOG which was previously paid to bus operators for running bus services under franchise to Transport for London (TfL) in London has been incorporated into the general grant paid to TfL and the Greater London Authority. The figures given above exclude some £47 million paid to TfL/GLA in this way for 2013/14 and some £93 million paid to them for 2014/15.

The figures given for 2013/14 onwards are made up of (i) BSOG paid to bus companies and community transport operators for running services outside London, (ii) BSOG devolved to local transport authorities in the five areas which have been designated as Better Bus Areas, and (iii) BSOG for tendered (non-commercially viable) services outside London for which the funding has been devolved to individual local authorities since 1 January 2014.

As BSOG is a demand-led grant, it is too early to give an accurate projection of spend for 2015/16. However, we would expect it to be broadly similar to that for 2014-15.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11759, if he will place a copy of the report compiled by EY in connection with changes to Network Rail in the Library.

Claire Perry

The work referenced in Question 11759 was commissioned in order to inform a range of policy options. This work is ongoing, and therefore we will not be placing it in the House Library.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his oral evidence to the Transport Select Committee on Volkswagen Group emissions violations on 12 October 2015, Q88, HC 495, on what date he sent his letter to Commissioner Bieńkowska; whether he has received a reply to that letter; and if will place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Andrew Jones

A letter was sent to Commissioner Bienkowska on 22 September.

Commissioner Bienkowska wrote on 14 October to Ministers of the Competitiveness Council, Transport Ministers and Environment Ministers. In this letter she set out the actions the Commission are taking.

I am pleased to place a copy of the 22 September letter in the House Library.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the transfer of Intercity 125 sets from the Great Western franchise to the Scotrail franchise in 2017-18 is conditional on Network Rail meeting its current regulated output targets on the Great Western Main Line electrification project.

Claire Perry

The lease for the Intercity 125 sets is a commercial matter between Great Western Railway (GWR) and the owner of the fleet. Under current plans, the transfer of the rolling stock is not conditional on Network Rail meeting its current regulated output targets on the Great Western Main Line electrification project.

The planned schedule for the introduction of the InterCity Express Programme fleet to replace the Intercity 125 sets will see the new trains enter service from 2017 on the Great Western Main Line.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many temporary speed restrictions were in place on Network Rail infrastructure on (a) 1 April and (b) the most recent date for which figures are available.

Claire Perry

At the start of April 2015, there were 226 Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSR) on Network Rail infrastructure. As of 9th October (end of week 3, Period 7) there were 331 TSRs on the network.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost is to (a) his Department and (b) Network Rail of unpausing electrification of the Midland Main Line and the North TransPennine route.

Claire Perry

Unpausing electrification of the Midland Mainline and the North TransPennine route has not caused the Department to incur any immediate additional costs.

With regard to Network Rail’s costs, Midland Mainline electrification was in the delivery phase at the time of pause and Network Rail are still working to understand the costs associated with the decision to unpause. The North TransPennine route is still in development and costs were not affected by the decision to recommence electrification.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2015 to Question 9602, which external organisations received payments from his Department in connection with developing the policies referred to in that Answer; and what amount was paid to each such organisation.

Claire Perry

EY, previously known as Ernst & Young, was engaged in developing the work referred to in Question 9602, and was paid £230k (excluding VAT) in respect of that work.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether officials in his Department were acting on his authority when they instructed Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road on 26 March 2015 on how the further assessment of Control Period 5’s cost estimates was to be carried out.

Claire Perry

On 23 March 2015, a senior Department for Transport (DfT) committee commissioned Network Rail, the Office of Rail and Road, and DfT officials to jointly assess the whole enhancements portfolio and provide a more robust estimate of costs. Senior officials from all three organisations met on 26 March 2015 to discuss how we could work together to undertake this piece of work.

The Secretary of State did not specifically instruct this work nor was he part of these two meetings.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s press release, New plans to get more people cycling, published on 16 October 2014, what the statistical basis is of the statement that around £5 was spent per head on cycling.

Mr Robert Goodwill

In the five years 2011/12 to 2015/16, the Department has increased its spend on cycling in England from £1 per head to £3 per head. Local authorities also spend significant amounts on cycling and over the same period, total spend on cycling in England has increased from £2 per head to £6 per head. Spend is over £10 per head in the eight Cycle Ambition Cities and London.

	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16
DfT spend per head	£1	£2	£2	£2	£3
Total spend per head	£2	£4	£5	£5	£6

In 2014-15, the Department’s dedicated cycling programmes were Bikeability, Cycle Ambition Cities, Cycling in National Parks and the Highways Agency’s cycling programme. The Department also funds cycling programmes through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), with 28% of the LSTF being spent on cycling.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the purpose of his Department’s Bowe Liaison Board is; and on what dates that board has met.

Claire Perry

The purpose of The Bowe Review – Senior Liaison Board is:

• to provide an opportunity for engagement during the Review with key senior stakeholders
• to enable a two-way communication to update key stakeholders on progress with the Review and to receive their advice on carrying out the review

The board has met three times during the course of the review:-

• 24 March 2015
• 20 May 2015
• 24 June 2015