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.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with East Midlands Railway regarding the restoration of regular train services between Lincoln and Newark Northgate following their withdrawal in the emergency timetable introduced in June 2021, resulting in gaps in services between Lincoln and London via Newark Northgate.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Officials and East Midlands Railway are having conversations regarding the restoration of train services between Lincoln and Newark Northgate. Reinstatement is dependent upon the implementation of the East Coast Main Line timetable recast and successful conclusion of the relevant industry and departmental processes.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are aware of any legal challenges or academic research regarding the Office of Road and Rail’s use of the 'not primarily abstractive' test when considering open access applications.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is not aware of any legal challenges or academic research regarding the Office of Road and Rail’s use of the 'not primarily abstractive' test when considering open access applications.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether Hitachi is delivering its contracted number of trains to (1) Great Western Railway, and (2) London North Eastern Railway.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Hitachi works closely with the train operators to deliver the required number of trains for service to Great Western Railway and London North-eastern Railway. Where Hitachi is responsible for any shortfall, contractual mechanisms are in place so that the operator only pays for the trains it receives each morning.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the reduction in passenger journeys on Southeastern trains between 2019 and 2024, whether action is being taken to match resources to demand and reduce the subsidy required from the taxpayer.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department requires its operators, including Southeastern, to match resources to passenger demand and carefully balance cost, capacity and performance in order to maximise value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have given permission to Thames Water to commence work on the proposed reservoir near Abingdon.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State has allowed Thames Water to finalise its Water Resources Management Plan, which includes the Abingdon Reservoir (South East Strategic Reservoir Option) proposal. The South East Strategic Reservoir Option meets the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project criteria and would need development consent, under the Planning Act 2008, as well as relevant environmental permits before it can be constructed.
Development consent decisions are subject to public examination undertaken by an independent Planning Inspector and require approval by the Secretary of State. An Environmental Impact Assessment will be required, showing the potential impacts and how they will be mitigated to inform the decisions.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they assess that Thames Water is making the necessary investments in sewage treatment facilities to clean up the River Thames.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
At Draft Determination, Ofwat propose to allow Thames Water to undertake a significant investment programme to improve the environment over the 2025-30 period worth £1.9 billion. This includes £1.1 billion to reduce nutrient pollution and £517 million to reduce the use of storm overflows, including around the Thames and its tributaries. Ofwat is considering Thames Water’s response to DDs and will make Final Determinations later this year.
Sewage infrastructure upgrades are the responsibility of the water company. As part of the Environment Act 2021, a new duty has been created for water companies in England to produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs).
These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the drainage and wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues. The plans will bring together various stakeholders including local authorities and industry regulators.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the money refunded to privately franchised train operators or open access operators within the last two months under Schedule 4 or Schedule 8 arrangements in Track Access Agreements come from public funds.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Schedule 4 and 8 payments are made by Network Rail and therefore always come from public funds.