Tag: Lord Berkeley

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-05-04.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 4 May (HL7877), why they have not specified as part of their sustainability policy for HS2 the use of sustainable aggregates in the design of structures.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The HS2 Sustainability Policy states that we will ‘source and make efficient use of sustainable materials.’ This includes the use of sustainable aggregates but is a purposely high-level statement intended to cover all types of sustainable materials. The detailed specifications for the sourcing and use of all materials, including aggregates, will be developed through the design process in line with the Sustainability Policy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-07-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to implement the recommendations made by the Law Commission in 2013 regarding level crossing legislation.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Department for Transport is close to finalising its response to the Law Commission’s recommendations on the reform of level crossing legislation.

This is a complex area and it has been necessary to explore all the available options in detail. Whilst this has taken time, I am confident that we will be able to come forward with proposals for a cohesive package of improvements shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which technical approvals are still outstanding in respect of the new Hinkley Point nuclear power plant.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

The EPR reactor proposed for use at Hinkley Point C has successfully completed Generic Design Assessment. NNBGenCo has also received a site licence to operate the site, environmental permits and development consent. The UK’s independent regulators will continue to regulate Hinkley Point C through construction, operation and decommissioning. Specifically, once safety-related construction activities have started, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) will use the nuclear site licence to regulate construction by releasing key hold points in line with NNB GenCo’s development of the site specific safety case.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many key performance indicators are used by the Office of Rail and Road to monitor Network Rail’s performance.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) have informed me that in the current five yearly regulatory cycle (Control Period 5) that started on 1st April 2014, they established 13 categories of regulated outputs,some of which are disaggregated further, such as by franchised train operator route or by delivery milestones.These outputs include train service reliability, enhancements, health and safety, network availability, network capability, stations, depots, asset management and environment.

There are 25 categories of core indicators from these outputs, which are disaggregated further. Full details of the regulated outputs can be found on table 3.11, page 125 of the Final Determination for Control Period 5, a copy of which is attached.

The ORR publishes six monthly reports on Network Rail’s progress in relation to these regulated outputs in the ‘Network Rail Monitor’ and the ‘Network Rail Monitor for Scotland’.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Bowe report into Network Rail will be completed, and whether it will be published.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Secretary of State for Transport expects to receive the Bowe Review once it is completed later in the autumn.

The Secretary of State has committed to publish the Review in the autumn.

Upon publication copies will be placed in both Libraries of the House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes they have proposed to requirements for disposing of Network Rail land not currently used for rail-related purposes.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Condition 7 of Network Rail’s network licence regulates the disposal of the company’s land assets. Network Rail’s network licence is held with the Office of Rail and Road. The Government has not proposed any changes to Condition 7.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the maximum gradients on the proposed HS2 line, and where they are located.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

In general the normal limiting gradient on the proposed HS2 line is 2.5%, which occurs at various locations along the route.

However, there are a few instances of steeper gradients where there are physical constraints that do not allow gradients of 2.5% or less to be achieved, namely:

– Between Euston Station and Euston Tunnels (3.4%)

– In the Euston Tunnels before Old Oak Common (3.5%)

– The east end of the Bromford Tunnel (2.9%)

– The approach to Birmingham Curzon St (3.03%)

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect on UK business of the continuing disruption by migrants of rail and road freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Although it has made no specific assessment, the Government is well aware of the disruptive impact of migrants seeking to access the UK across the English Channel, both through the Channel Tunnel and on the shipping routes. The impact at the Channel Tunnel is particularly severe on the rail freight operators, who have seen a significant reduction in their business, and on Eurotunnel itself.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage local authorities to construct busways, and what is their latest estimate of the cost per mile of new busways.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

It is for local authorities to decide how best to deal with the transport issues in their areas. Should they decide that a Busway is the solution they wish to implement they would need to undertake the necessary design and obtain legal orders. Should they require government funding they should submit a bid through the Local Growth Fund process in conjunction with their Local Enterprise Partnership.

We do not have an estimate of the cost per mile of new busways. The last two schemes approved by the Government have been Cambridgeshire Guided Bus (42km, both guided and on-road, costing £180m) and Luton Guided Bus (7.2km of on and off road at a total cost of £89.2m).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2014-06-25.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to transfer responsibility for economic regulation and railway safety within the Channel Tunnel from the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission to the United Kingdom and French rail regulators; if so, by what date; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Kramer

The British and French Governments will move economic regulation of the Tunnel from the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) and its French equivalent, and put in place a charging framework by 31 March 2015. We are working with the French Government and anticipate that those commitments will be resolved by March next year. There are no plans to transfer railway safety from IGC.