Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider the current methods of assessing the benefits of major railway investment schemes, such as the recent proposals by Midland Connect, to be appropriate.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The approach recommended to assess benefits from rail investment schemes is set out in the Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG), which is based on HMT’s Green Book Guidance. Together, they set out the best practice guidance on assessing and evaluating policies, programmes and projects. The guidance is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new evidence.
The Department has been working closely with the scheme promoters of Midlands Connect proposals to ensure that the analysis of benefits is appropriate and proportionate for the state it is at.
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 reduce the use of railway replacement bus services under Great British Railways by improved planning of engineering works and by keeping at least one route open between principal points.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to delivering a simpler, more accountable railway with clear responsibilities. The establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) will end years of fragmentation and will have a relentless focus on driving up standards for passengers.
GBR will have the independence and tools it needs to deliver improvements to rail services, and plan and run the railway on a long-term basis in the interest of its passenger and freight customers and taxpayers. The Railways Bill is due to go before Parliament in this parliamentary session and GBR is expected to be operational around 12 months after the Bill receives Royal Assent.
Prior to the establishment of GBR, train operating companies are responsible for the procurement, planning and setting of the timetable for rail replacement services and work with Network Rail to ensure that any rail replacement services are co-ordinated with any planned engineering work or other disruptions on the railway. We expect under GBR that operations will take maximum advantage of alternative routes where possible to minimise the use of rail replacement road transport.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what fees are charged by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for access to their database by (1) legal firms seeking to pursue claims, and (2) those seeking to enforce parking fines.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The law permits the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to provide information from its vehicle record where the requester can demonstrate reasonable cause to receive it. The fee payable by private sector organisations seeking the contact details of the registered keeper of a vehicle is £2.50 but if additional information is needed the fee is £5.00. The fee is set to recover the cost of providing the information and ensures that the cost is borne by the requester, not passed on to the taxpayer.