Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of (1) the total cost of construction at Old Oak Common Great Western rail station, and (2) the total time for construction from the beginning of works to the opening of the station for passengers.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Old Oak Common is being designed and built as a single, integrated station, with a budget of £1.67bn (Q3 2019). There is no separate cost for the conventional station. Enabling Works at Old Oak Common started in 2018 and permanent works started in 2020. The station works will continue until opening for passenger services in 2029-2033. The total time is therefore between 11 and 15 years.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of intercity trains are planned to stop at Old Oak Common Great Western rail station when it is fully operational; and what is the additional journey time between Reading and London for trains that will call at Old Oak Common.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The current assumption is that all passenger trains on the Great Western Mainline will stop at the new Old Oak Common station. Current estimates indicate stopping trains at this station is likely to add approximately 3 minutes, though this would be dependent on further timetable analysis.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many platforms are planned for Old Oak Common rail station on the Great Western Main Line.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Eight platforms are planned for Old Oak Common rail station on the Great Western Main Line. This consists of four relief line platforms and four main line platforms.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government over what time periods rail services to and from Paddington Station will be disrupted due to construction for Old Oak Common Great Western station; and what alternative arrangements will be made for passengers.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Construction of the Old Oak Common conventional station will involve a number of partial and complete closures of the Great Western Main Line east of Ealing Broadway during the period up to 2030 which will impact passenger services and freight operations. My department is working with Network Rail, HS2 Ltd and the train operating companies to minimise the impacts of disruption, combining timing of works with other works planned on the route wherever possible, and ensure the continued operation of rail services.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the funding for Old Oak Common Great Western rail station comes from HS2 Ltd or Network Rail.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The whole cost of the new Old Oak Common station is funded through HS2, including the station on the Great Western Main Line.
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 conclusion of the report Getting the measure of transport poverty, published by the Social Market Foundation on 15 November, that investment in public transport is more beneficial to alleviating transport poverty than lowering the cost of driving.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government has consistently invested in public transport, including through the most recent announcement of £150 million dedicated to levelling up bus services, with areas across the North and Midlands given extra support for services to become more frequent, more reliable, cheaper and easier to use.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government when if at all they intend to reply to the letter dated 15 September from Lord Berkeley to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the Leader of the House of Commons, regarding the governance of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and similar bodies established by Royal Charter, which called for such bodies to publish and maintain their professional standards, monitor those members using them, and sanction those members who have failed to comply with them.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
Unfortunately, the department has no record of receiving the letter prior to 22 November. The department will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to investigate the performance of professional bodies, including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Institution of Civil Engineers, in their compliance with their duties under their Royal Charters to ensure the maintenance of professional standards in their industries rather than the maximising of professional fees.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Privy Council has no jurisdiction to investigate or intervene in the internal affairs of Chartered bodies. The only role that the Privy Council has in relation to Chartered bodies is the reactive one of considering amendments to Charters and Bylaws that are submitted to it for approval by the Chartered body.
The grant of a Royal Charter confers independent legal personality on a body and defines its objectives, constitution and powers to govern its own affairs. Incorporation by Royal Charter is a prestigious way of acquiring legal personality. Complaints against a Chartered body should be addressed to the body itself or, if a member, by raising issues directly with the organisation.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much has been spent by HS2 Ltd on consultants and advisors for each of the Phases 1, 2a and 2b of the HS2 project; which contracts with consultants and advisers valued at over £50 million are still operational; and which contracts have been terminated following the announcement of the cancellation of most of the HS2 project.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Details regarding expenditures on HS2, which include consultancy services, can be accessed through the Government's transparency data website.
Information related to past, current and future contract opportunities on the HS2 programme can be found on HS2 Ltd’s website.
With regard to terminating contracts on HS2 following the Prime Minister’s Network North announcement, the Department is working with HS2 Ltd and its supply chain to assess the cost implications of the cancellation of HS2 Phases 2a, 2b and HS2 East. The Department will provide a further update due course once these cost assessments have been assured.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the cancellation of much of the HS2 project, whether they will review the design and procurement of the rolling stock to be used on HS2, such that all commissioned new train sets will be able to continue on to the existing rail network.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Hitachi-Alstom joint venture is contracted to manufacture and maintain the HS2 rolling stock for Phase 1 of the project. We will complete Phase 1 of HS2 between Birmingham and London, with a rescoped Euston station. The contracted HS2 trains are designed to be capable of operating on both the existing rail network and new High Speed Rail network. As such a review of network interoperability is not required.