Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the bus industry when the £2 bus fare cap comes to an end on 31 December.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of the Government’s top priorities and we know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The Government is urgently considering the most effective and affordable ways to deliver on these objectives.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will list the underspends within (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies in (i) this financial year and (ii) across the Spending Review period.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In each financial year, the Government seeks authority from Parliament for its spending each year. The Main Estimates start this process and are presented to Parliament by the Treasury. This sets out the departmental forecast spend for the year. Each year this is updated through the Supplementary Estimates, where any changes against the Main Estimates are published. These are available online at: HMT Main Estimates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). These publications are accompanied by a Memorandum that provides further information on the key drivers for changes to spending and are also available online: Transport Committee - Estimate memoranda - Committees - UK Parliament. In addition, the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts are published annually, which sets out the final consolidated position for the year: DfT Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk).
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to (a) implement and (b) cancel efficiency savings budgeted for by the previous Government for (i) her Department and (ii) departmental arm's length bodies; and what plans she has for further such efficiency savings.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Chancellor has recently set out plans for departmental efficiencies such as taking actions to stop all non-essential government consultancy spend in 2024-25 and halve government spending on consultancy in future years, reducing communications and marketing budgets and continuing to dispose of surplus public sector estates. Future year efficiencies will be set during the upcoming Spending Review. Further information can be could here: Fixing the foundations – Public spending audit 2024-25 (publishing.service.gov.uk).
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to recent reports of further degradation of the structure of the SS Richard Montgomery, what precautions are planned to make safe the explosives in the ship.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
There is no indication that the further degradation of the structure of the SS Richard Montgomery, which is to be expected given the vessel’s age and location, has increased the risk associated with the wreck.
Following expert advice, work continues to reduce the height of the wreck’s three masts.
We will continue to monitor the site and undertake detailed surveys to assess the wreck’s condition which will inform future management strategies.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 23 July (HL Deb col 361) in relation to an upcoming meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales, when is the meeting, and whether they will report the discussions that take place in the meeting.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales is planned to take place in August. The meeting will include the parties agreeing how any reporting from the meeting will take place afterwards. The Secretary of State has already met with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Wales.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria National Highways use when determining which junctions qualify for funding for safety improvements.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Decisions on schemes are taken following the governance arrangements set out in National Highways’ Licence and Framework and within the level of funding agreed at the start of each Road Period. National Highways improves safety of the network through various activities including operations, maintenance and renewals; major enhancements; designated funds (including a Safety & Congestion Designated Fund). Schemes that improve safety are designed according to the safety objectives of the given section of the road network. Scheme designs are appraised for value for money and how effective they are at achieving scheme objectives.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average distance between refuges will be across the Smart Motorway network following the conclusion of the retrofitting of new emergency refuges.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways is adding over 150 Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs) across the All Lane Running (ALR) network, to be completed by the end of March 2025. Some ERAs are still under construction, and sitings may be subject to final change due to topographical challenges. Once the rollout is completed, National Highways will be able to calculate the average spacing of places to stop in an emergency across the whole ALR network. We will share this information as soon as it becomes available.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much contingency funding for urgent safety- critical projects National Highways has set aside in its 2024-2025 budget for in-year funding bids.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Funding for safety critical repairs is drawn from National Highways’ Maintenance and Renewals budget, the budget for 2024/25 is £230m for maintenance and £1.2bn for renewals.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in her Department in each of the last five years.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Cabinet Office published the Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion Expenditure Guidance on 14th May. Further guidance on diversity staff networks is being developed.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many drivers hold (1) a Category C licence and (2) a Category C+E licence; and of each of these groups, how many hold a valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As at 20 July 2024, the number of driving licence holders with (1) Category C and (2) Category C+E driving entitlement is shown below:
The number of these drivers who hold a valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence is shown below: