Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reduction in deaths and serious injuries from road accidents that has occurred since the introduction of 20 mph speed limits in built-up areas in Wales; and what studies they have undertaken to determine what reduction could be expected if a 20 mph speed limit was similarly applied to roads in built-up areas of England.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Setting and evaluating national limits in Wales, including the restricted road limit on street-lit roads, is a matter for the Welsh Government. The power to introduce 20mph limits on roads in England rests with local authorities.
The Department for Transport published a comprehensive three-year evaluation of the effect of 20mph limits, which are 20mph schemes relying only on signage, on 22 November 2018. The evaluation looked at twelve case studies in England, including two in city centres.
The evaluation found insufficient evidence to conclude that that there had been a significant change in collisions and casualties following the introduction of 20mph limits in residential areas.
There is some evidence to suggest a positive 20mph impact in one city centre location in Brighton. A blanket 20mph limit was introduced, covering both major and minor roads, and there is sufficient data to show a statistically significant change in collisions and casualties relative to the 30mph comparator area. It should be stressed that this represents just one case study, and the extent to which the findings are transferable to other locations is unclear.
The Department for Transport has regular discussions with our counterparts in the devolved governments, including on road safety.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the provision of hot food options on long-distance inter-city train services that are under public ownership.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
There are two train companies under public ownership that operate long-distance inter-city services: London North-Eastern Railway (LNER) and TransPennine Express.
LNER provides catering facilities on all of its services in both standard and first class. Many services include hot food options depending on time of day and route. There are no current plans to expand LNER’s offer.
On TransPennine Express, an enhanced catering option including hot food was introduced on services between Liverpool and Newcastle on 17 February 2025. This followed a successful trial of enhanced catering options on West Coast routes in 2024. The ‘West Coast Kitchen’ initiative exceeded forecasted revenue uplift and has crated additional employment opportunities for onboard catering staff.
As a principally short-distance and commuter operator, Northern does not offer catering on its services.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what investigations they have undertaken about the provision of a link between the new station at Old Oak Common and the proposed new Hythe Road station on the London Overground's Mildmay Line.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The HS2 station currently being constructed at Old Oak Common will connect HS2 services with services on the existing Great Western Main Line including an interchange with the Elizabeth line; provisional journey times are approximately 15 minutes from Old Oak Common to London’s West End, 20 minutes to the City, and 25 minutes to Canary Wharf.
The local area surrounding Old Oak Common station is currently subject to proposals for development by various organisations. Whilst the HS2 Ltd design for Old Oak Common has not yet integrated designs, the urban realm area and station itself has been designed and sized to account for growth. To the east of the site, in the direction of Hythe Road, the station design provides passive provision for both pedestrian and vehicle bridge links so that these can be added later if needed, after the station ceases to operate as a terminus. Note that the proposed station at Hythe Road is a Transport for London proposal and HS2 Ltd isn't delivering any direct scope associated with this station.
HS2 Ltd continues to work closely with the Old Oak Park Royal Development Corporation, local boroughs and Transport for London to review potential pedestrian routes and ensure feasibility of proposals for development.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following their decision to refuse permission for the building of the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange, what plans they have to increase the volume of freight carried by rail.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government continues to support modal shift from road to rail through the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme, which we have extended to at least 31 March 2026. As stated in our consultation document on proposals to reform our railways, there will be a statutory duty on Great British Railways to promote the use of rail freight, alongside a growth target set by the Secretary of State. We will also include safeguards to ensure that freight operators continue to receive fair access to the network. Both Government and Great British Railways will work with the rail freight industry on further actions to support growth.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of comments by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, reported in New Civil Engineer on 4 March, that spending "vast sums" on High Speed 2's bat tunnel is "ludicrous", why they have allowed construction to continue at a cost of £119 million.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The cost of the Sheephouse Wood bat structure is £95m in 2019 prices. It has been designed and constructed to comply with species protection laws as they currently stand, and to fulfil the requirements of the licence issued by Natural England in 2023. Abandoning construction in advance of any changes to the relevant legislation would be a breach of the conditions under which the new railway can be legally operated, and a presumption of the will of Parliament. Furthermore, and in common with much of the civil engineering structures for HS2, construction of the bat mitigation structure is well advanced and forms part of an integrated design for the railway in the Calvert area. In such circumstances, decommissioning and removing the elements of the structure already built, and redesigning and then constructing an alternative scheme for this section of railway would - at this stage in the construction schedule - cost more than completing the existing structure.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will name the accounting officers, officials and ministers with responsibility for HS2 from 2015 to present.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Within the Department for Transport, the Permanent Secretaries and Principal Accounting Officers with responsibility for High Speed Two (HS2) from 2015 to present are Philip Rutnam and Bernadette Kelly. The Directors General and Senior Responsible Owners for the project during that time period are David Prout, Michael Hurn (acting), Clive Maxwell, and Alan Over.
With respect to ministers, the Secretaries of State for Transport since 2015 bore ultimate ministerial responsibility for the project. In chronological order, they have been Patrick McLoughlin, Christopher Grayling, Grant Shapps, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Mark Harper, Louise Haigh, and Heidi Alexander.
Under the Secretary of State for Transport, various ministers have shared ministerial responsibility for HS2 within the Department since 2015. In chronological order, they have been Robert Goodwill, Paul Maynard, Nusrat Ghani, Andrew Stephenson, Trudy Harrison, Kevin Foster, Huw Merriman, and Lord Peter Hendy.
Within HS2 Ltd, individuals holding Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer responsibilities since 2015 have been, in chronological order, Simon Kirby, Roy Hill, Mark Thurston, Sir Jon Thompson, Alan Foster, and Mark Wild.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial and operational implications of continuing to rely on ground-based precision approach infrastructure (such as instrument landing systems) in poor weather conditions following the loss of European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) enabled approaches; and what steps they are taking to mitigate the impact on aviation safety, regional connectivity, and emergency air services caused by the absence of EGNOS for precision landing guidance.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Larger UK airports and many regional airports have Instrument Landing Systems in place and therefore a satellite-based augmentation system) such as European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), is primarily beneficial at smaller regional airports and General Aviation aerodromes during periods of poor weather resulting in restricted visibility. Flights that are taking place continue to do so safely, following alternative Civil Aviation Authority approved procedures.
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) will, in the UK, be supported through a GNSS Point in Space ‘PinS’ approach to helicopter landing sites at trauma hospitals which will greatly assist in increasing the utility of air ambulance helicopters in poor visibility conditions.
Government is considering options for UK access to a satellite-based augmentation system, following our withdrawal from the EU's EGNOS system. This work is continuing and no decision has yet been made.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the removal of localiser performance with vertical guidance approaches on general aviation, emergency medical services, and regional airports; and what steps they are taking to mitigate the economic and operational impact of the loss of European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service services.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Larger UK airports and many regional airports have Instrument Landing Systems in place and therefore a satellite-based augmentation system) such as European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), is primarily beneficial at smaller regional airports and General Aviation aerodromes during periods of poor weather resulting in restricted visibility. Flights that are taking place continue to do so safely, following alternative Civil Aviation Authority approved procedures.
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) will, in the UK, be supported through a GNSS Point in Space ‘PinS’ approach to helicopter landing sites at trauma hospitals which will greatly assist in increasing the utility of air ambulance helicopters in poor visibility conditions.
Government is considering options for UK access to a satellite-based augmentation system, following our withdrawal from the EU's EGNOS system. This work is continuing and no decision has yet been made.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the European Commission and other relevant EU bodies on securing the reinstatement of UK access to the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service for localiser performance with vertical guidance approach procedures; and what timeline they have established for restoring this capability to UK airports.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Government are resetting the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties, secure a broad-based security pact and tackle barriers to trade. However, the Government is still considering options for UK access to a satellite-based augmentation system, following our withdrawal from the EU's EGNOS system. This work is continuing and no decision has yet been made.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what role they envisage for the Rail Safety and Standards Board within the new railway structure with Great British Railways.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The independent Rail Safety and Standards Board acts as the safety, standards and research body for Great Britain’s rail network. We will review its exact remit to ensure it is able to fulfil a similar role within the new model.