Tag: Lilian Greenwood

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11430, what steps his Department took before 15 September 2015 in relation to bus operators who submitted claims for Bus Service Operators Grant funding to support closed bus services.

Andrew Jones

In considering claims from bus operators for Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) for the bus services that they run, my department analyses each claim to ensure that these meet the eligibility criteria for the grant scheme, including those relating to services which serve educational establishments. Where we receive claims that we consider to be ineligible for BSOG – for instance closed services – and where operators are unable to demonstrate that they are eligible, the claims are disallowed. The eligibility criteria for the scheme are printed on the forms which operators must fill in and submit to the department in order to claim the grant.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2015 to Question 12540, whether the process for Government approval of bus regulation as part of devolution deals referred to in that Answer will require secondary legislation or his formal permission.

Andrew Jones

The Buses Bill will be introduced later in this Parliamentary session, so proposals are still in development. It is therefore too early to confirm the process that may be proposed through the Bill.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11431, which key senior stakeholders have been represented at the Bowe Review – Senior Liaison Board on each of the dates referred to in that Answer.

Claire Perry

On 24^th March, 20^th May, 24^th June senior stakeholders from Rail Executive, Department for Transport; the Office of Rail and Road; Network Rail; HM Treasury; Cabinet Office and the Major Projects Authority were represented at the Bowe Review – Senior Liaison Board.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many tonnes of steel (a) used and (b) projected to be used in the construction of Crossrail were sourced from (i) UK-based steel manufacturers and (ii) all steel manufacturers; and what the monetary value was of those orders.

Claire Perry

Crossrail Ltd. does not directly procure steel as this is undertaken by their tier 1 contractors and their supply chains. However, Crossrail keeps an oversight of its critical contracts and estimates that 85% of its supply chain providing steel to the project is UK based; this includes the 57km of rails for the central tunnelled section that is being sourced from the UK.

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.

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

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many claims were made by bus operators for Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) funding for school services that were not entitled to receive BSOG support in 2014-15; and how many operators made such claims.

Andrew Jones

Operators of bus services serving educational establishments are entitled to claim BSOG for these services as long as they are also available for members of the general public to catch. However, “closed” bus services – used only by students and staff of educational establishments, and from which the wider public are excluded – are not eligible for BSOG. When it came to our attention recently that some operators may have submitted claims for closed bus services the Department wrote to all operators claiming BSOG in England reminding them of which educational services are eligible for the grant. We will take strong measures where operators claim for such ineligible services in future. Accurate figures for how many operators or routes may have claimed for closed services during 2014/15 are not readily available.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to create an independent aviation noise authority with a statutory right to be consulted on flight paths and other operating matters.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Government is currently considering the Airports Commission’s Final Report, including its recommendation for a new national independent aviation noise authority. Any decision to take forward such a body would be subject to consultation on its detailed functions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s letter of 11 April 2014 to the Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd, when he plans to publish the advice by HS2 Ltd and Network Rail on improving connections to European rail networks referred to in that letter.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The HS2 Plus Report by Sir David Higgins, which was published in March 2014, highlighted a number of issues with HS2-HS1 link proposed in the Phase One hybrid Bill. In response to the HS2 Plus report, the Secretary of State decided to remove the HS1-HS2 link from the Phase One Hybrid Bill as it required too many compromises in terms of impacts on freight, passengers and the community in Camden.

The Secretary of State has therefore asked HS2 Ltd to consider how to improve connections to the continent. This connectivity study, which is nearing completion, will explore options to improve connections to the continent. We expect the study to be completed by the end of this year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s average spend on Bus Service Operators Grant was per capita in each English region in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Andrew Jones

The information requested is not available in this form. However, details of the annual amounts paid to individual bus operators in England, and the local authority area in which they are based, can be found at the following links for 2014/15, 2013/14 and 2012/13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-service-operators-grant-payments-to-english-operators-up-to-31-march-2015

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-service-operators-grant-payments-to-english-operators-up-to-31-march-2014

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-service-operators-grant-payments-to-english-operators-up-to-31-march-2013

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