Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to change or restrict open access operations on the railway network.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State recently wrote to the Chair of the ORR to set out her expectations for the future of Open Access. She was clear on the benefits that Open Access can bring, but equally that balance must be struck between passenger benefits and impacts upon taxpayers and network performance. This does not represent a ‘restriction’ on Open Access, but rather that it is important to ensure that this balance is applied when ORR undertakes its statutory duties in relation to each application. We remain committed to a role for Open Access where it provides benefits for both passengers and taxpayers.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of smart motorways in terms of road safety; and whether further remedial works are planned on converted smart motorways.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.
The latest published safety data (covering 2017 to 2021) shows that overall, in terms of serious or fatal casualties, smart motorways remain the safest roads on the Strategic Road Network. National Highways continues to take action to improve safety, including the roll out of more than 150 additional Emergency Areas on the network, which is due to complete by end of March.
We continue to work with the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) to assess the effectiveness of safety systems in place on smart motorways, with further reporting due in Spring.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is total cost of the installation of new emergency areas on smart motorways, broken down by each motorway.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The previous Government committed £390 million for National Highways to construct over 150 Emergency Areas across the All Lane Running (ALR) smart motorway network through the National Emergency Area Retrofit programme. The work is being managed as a single programme and final costs for the installation of Emergency Areas on each section of motorway will be confirmed when accounts are settled, expected no earlier than Q3 2025/26.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what has been the total cost of the smart motorway programme to date, broken down by each motorway.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
National Highways has managed smart motorways as a programme since 2013. The total spend to date on reconfiguring sections of the motorway network to predominantly All Lane Running (ALR) smart motorways in England since 2013 is £5.075 billion. The table below breaks this down by each motorway scheme:
ALR scheme | £m |
M1 junctions 13 to 16 | 452.5 |
M1 junctions 19 to 16 | 192.6 |
M1 junctions 23a to 24 | 46.3 |
M1 junctions 24 to 25 | 97.3 |
M1 junctions 28 to 31 | 203.5 |
M1 junctions 32 to 35a | 108.7 |
M1 junctions 39 to 42 | 124.1 |
M20 junctions 3 to 5 | 146.4 |
M23 junctions 8 to 10 | 227.7 |
M25 junctions 23 to 27 | 159.5 |
M25 junctions 5 to 7 | 105.1 |
M27 junctions 4 to 11 | 281.4 |
M3 junctions 2 to 4a | 182.4 |
M4 junctions 3 to 12 | 922.8 |
M5 junctions 4a to 6 | 133.6 |
M56 junctions 6 to 8 | 100.9 |
M6 junctions 10a to 13 | 97.0 |
M6 junctions 13 to 15 | 305.4 |
M6 junctions 16 to 19 | 253.8 |
M6 junctions 2 to 4 | 220.2 |
M6 junctions 21a to 26 | 267.5 |
M62 junctions 10 to 12 | 148.7 |
M62 junctions 18 to 20 | 297.6 |
Total | 5,075 |
In addition, National Highways is investing £900 million over the second road investment strategy (RIS2) to add further safety features to smart motorways. This includes £390 million to construct over 150 additional emergency areas on existing ALR smart motorways, which is due to complete in March.
This government takes road safety very seriously, we have been clear, we will not roll out new smart motorways.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for future years to ensure train operators provide services on Boxing Day.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department requires its operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to meet expected passenger demand. These should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer.
Typically, demand for services on Boxing Day is low and much of the network is closed to provide opportunity for essential maintenance. We expect operators and in future, Great British Railways, to continue to consider the case for Boxing Day services where there is demand and they do not further increase the burden on taxpayers.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to provide a long-term funding settlement for Transport for London to enable investment in infrastructure.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department will continue to work with Transport for London (TfL) with the aim to place it on a long-term financially sustainable footing as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review. The Government remains committed to supporting London and the transport network on which it depends and continues to regularly engage with TfL to understand its investment plans.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to introduce a new road safety plan; and if so, what is their timescale for doing so.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our road safety strategy and will set out more details in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to address grid capacity in order to support the electrification of bus depots and garages; and if so, what is their timescale for doing so.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government works closely with local areas and bus operators to ensure issues and concerns with bus electrification are fully understood, and best practice is shared.
More widely, the Government is committed to expanding the electricity network to support the Clean Energy Superpower mission and is working closely with Ofgem and industry to mobilise the required investment at the scale and pace required. Price controls set by Ofgem ensure network companies are investing in infrastructure build, as well as smart management of network assets, to ensure the network has sufficient capacity.
Under the current distribution (low voltage) price control covering 2023-2028, Ofgem has allowed £22.2bn for upfront network investment, including £3.1bn for network upgrades which will help the grid to be ready for changing infrastructure needs.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has also announced that the newly formed National Energy System Operator has been asked to produce the first strategic spatial plan for energy, and it is also looking at reforming the connection process. Both those actions will help bus operators.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following their consultation Ending the sale of new, non-zero emission buses, coaches and minibuses, which ran from 26 March to 21 May 2022, what is the end sale date for diesel buses.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In spring 2022, the Department consulted on setting an end of sales date for new non-zero emission buses. At the same time calls for evidence on the decarbonisation of coaches and minibuses were conducted. The Government is considering options and will provide an update in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to carry out a further round of zero emission bus funding.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Zero Emission Bus budget for this financial year has already been allocated against ZEBRA 2 projects. The Department’s spending envelope for Financial Year 2025/2026 was announced at the Budget. Allocations for individual funding lines will be agreed as part of the regular departmental business planning process and will be set out in due course.