The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there has been any research into the effect of the introduction of the Traffic Management Act 2004 on congestion in Cardiff, as opposed to other cities.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Not by Her Majesty’s Government. This is a devolved matter and so would be for the Welsh Government or the relevant traffic authority in Cardiff.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-04-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have yet considered the remainder of the Law Commission’s recommendations on the reform of level-crossing legislation.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Department for Transport is continuing to develop its response to the Law Commission’s recommendations on the reform of level crossing legislation in conjunction with stakeholders.
We expect to finalise our deliberations shortly with a view to a consultation on preferred options later this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-09-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 17 June (HL518), how many unplanned closures of the East Coast Main Line there were in August.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Network Rail and the relevant train operators will continue to develop the detail and performance implications of the 2021 timetable in line with the industry’s normal timetable development process, under the oversight of the Office of Rail and Road.
With regard to the operation of the Thameslink central core, this is a matter for Network Rail and the relevant train operators, under the oversight of the Office of Rail and Road. The industry is continuing to develop plans for integrating the 24 trains per hour proposed to run on the Thameslink route at peak times from December 2018 with other services on the East Coast Main Line, including the implications for punctuality and reliability.
After consulting with Network Rail we have established that there were five ‘unplanned closures’, on various sections of the line, on five separate days in August, two of which were infrastructure related and three as a result of passenger action.
Network Rail have defined days with ‘unplanned closures’ of the East Coast Main Line as days where there are more than five cancellation events. A cancellation event covers any service suffering one or more of the below events:
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect that congestion in urban areas is having on the cost and attractiveness of bus travel to travellers.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Department for Transport has not conducted a specific assessment of the effect that congestion in urban areas is having on the cost and attractiveness of bus travel to travellers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-04-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose to set up a stakeholder working party with an independent chairman to make recommendations to them concerning any damage to rights of way caused by motorised traffic.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
On 11 February Minister Stewart wrote to all the national park authorities to explain the Government was not going to establish a motor vehicle working group, as he believes in locally brokered solutions as the long term solution to issues around motor vehicles on public rights of way.
Defra and Natural England are offering to hold a one-off forum for all motor vehicle stakeholders to share their knowledge and expertise and to discuss ways of working together in the future.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-09-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 17 June (HL402), when they expect to complete their estimate of the financial impact that the decision by the Office of Road and Rail to allow competition on the East Coast Main Line will have on the existing Virgin Trains East Coast franchise.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government has estimated the financial impact of the Office of Rail and Roads decision on the franchise. However, in light of the potential impact on the franchisee, this information is considered to be commercially sensitive.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of congestion in urban areas on the number of buses that have to remain in service, in particular in Manchester.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The bus market outside London is deregulated, with the vast majority of services provided on a commercial basis by private sector bus operators. The impact of congestion in urban areas on the number of buses that have to remain in service is one for bus operators and local transport authorities to consider.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-04-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the proposed increase in penalty points and fines for those who use mobile phones while driving, in the light of the number of road fatalities in which that offence was a contributing factor.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Evidence shows that hand-held mobile phone use by car drivers decreased after the legislation was introduced in 2003, and after the first increase in the penalty in 2007. However, I know that dangerous in-car mobile phone use remains a key concern amongst motorists. That is why the previous Government increased the level of fine in 2013 and this Government has brought forward a further package of measures to increase the current 3 penalty points to 4 and the fixed penalty notice to rise from £100 to £150.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-10-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the impact of highway works and their management by utilities and local authorities on traffic congestion and delays to road traffic, they have any plans to review the operation of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 or the Traffic Management Act 2004.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government wants to deliver better journeys for drivers. Roadworks are essential, but that doesn’t mean they should be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary. We continue to keep the implementation and operation of the relevant legislation and statutory guidance under constant review, and are taking opportunities to streamline, simplify and de-regulate what has become a complex legislative framework where possible.
In addition, we are modernising and updating secondary legislation and statutory guidance where this is necessary and where it will lead to improvements in the way that road and street works are managed. Recent examples include consultations earlier this year on updated statutory guidance relating to inspections and modernised regulations relating to the qualifications regime. In 2015, we updated regulations and guidance on permit schemes that are now in place in over 55% of local authority areas and which are resulting in more effective management of street works and reductions in the duration of works.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2015-12-02.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 18 November (HL3318), in the light of the fact that the franchise to Virgin Stagecoach for the East Coast Main Line specified five additional services between Lincoln and London each day, whether there are any immediate steps that can be taken, either directly or via Newark North Gate, to improve the present service.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The additional Lincoln services have been contracted by the Department to run from May 2019, because at that time the new IEP rolling stock and infrastructure enhancements (subject to the ORR granting the necessary rights) will enable Virgin Trains East Coast to operate these additional services.
However, Franchise Agreements state the minimum service provision of the train operator, and if the train operator believes that the demand exists for more services than are stipulated and they have the rolling stock, staff availability and they can obtain the required track access rights, there is nothing to stop them from running more services.
The Government believes that Train Operators are better placed to respond to the changing demands of their customers in the creation of train services.