Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to make it a criminal offence to park on pavements.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The police already have powers to enforce dangerous or obstructive parking wherever it occurs. They can also enforce pavement parking restrictions, where such restrictions are introduced by the few local authorities outside London who do not have civil parking enforcement powers. However, the majority of local authorities outside London, and all London councils, have taken civil enforcement powers and would themselves enforce any pavement restrictions that may apply.
In the wider context, the Department for Transport is considering the conclusions of the Transport Select Committee’s recent inquiry into pavement parking, alongside the findings of its own evidence review, and will respond to the Committee in November.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given, as part of their review of the Highway Code, to changing from the current position where all road users are deemed to have equal responsibility to a hierarchy of responsibility so those categories of users who cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility for reducing the dangers that they pose to others.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
On 22 November 2018, the Government published a two-year action plan and response to the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) Safety Review Call for Evidence. This made clear its commitment to the hierarchy of road users.
Included within CWIS SR action plan is a commitment to review the guidance in The Highway Code to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. We are currently agreeing the scope and delivery of this review, and would expect the hierarchy of road users to fall within scope. The review will be conducted in consultation with the Department's stakeholders, according to its usual practice.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that railway timetabling takes account of the need for good connections between services run by different companies.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Department requires franchised operators to cooperate with each other to ensure that overall, the needs of passengers are met. This includes a requirement to offer a reasonable pattern of service such that connections between services can be made. Where specific connections are identified as being particularly important, the Department may specify their inclusion in franchise bids. Where a connection is required, a balance needs to be struck between allowing sufficient time to change trains, including during delays and maintaining an acceptable end to end journey time.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to secure improvements to the rail services between Exeter and Barnstaple.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Great Western Railway’s plans for the Barnstaple route include the introduction of three-car air-conditioned Class 158 trains, improvements to the timetable to fill the current gaps in the peak hour services and splitting the route from the Exmouth service while continuing to service both Exeter St Davids and Exeter Central stations.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with Transport for London about increasing the number of wheelchairs allowed on London buses at any one time.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There have been no formal discussions between the Department for Transport and Transport for London (TfL) about increasing the number of wheelchairs allowed on London Buses at any one time. However, TfL is encouraging vehicle manufacturers to maximise the space available within the designated wheelchair bay. This will make it easier for wheelchair users to move into the area and place themselves in the correct position – the back of the wheelchair against the back rest.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a policy of encouraging rail operators to convert first class carriages to standard class.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Government specifies high level capacity requirements and expects the industry to determine appropriate operational solutions based on local demand to deliver these requirements. Where appropriate, this may include providing additional seating capacity in standard class carriages through conversion of first class carriages. While it is not our general policy to require operators to convert first class carriages to standard class, the Government would expect operators to consider the appropriate mix of standard and first class provision in meeting local demand for their services. In the case of the recent Virgin West Coast and First Great Western Direct Awards, the Government has contracted with the operators to provide additional capacity in this way.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the annual average income earned by each seat on the East Coast rail service in (1) standard class, and (2) first class.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The average revenue per seat on the East Coast rail service, calculated by dividing the annual farebox revenue by the number of seats is as follows:
1) Standard Class: £27,992
2) First Class: £28,021
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have subsidised, or are considering subsidising, the costs of rail operators in converting first class carriages to standard class.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Government specifies capacity requirements at a high level and seeks input from the industry as to cost effective and timely ways in which this can be delivered. The industry is free to consider initiatives which meet the overall requirements of the Department for Transport's specification. This may include providing additional seating capacity in standard class carriages through conversion of first class carriages. In the case of the recent Virgin West Coast and First Great Western Direct Awards, the Government has contracted with the operators to provide additional capacity in this way.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the annual average cost of each seat on the East Coast rail service in (1) standard class, and (2) first class.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The average cost of each seat on the East Coast rail service, calculated by adding direct rolling stock costs (staff including drivers and guards, materials, leasing, operating and maintaining, fuel, retail costs net revenue, logistics) and dividing by total number of seats are as follows:
1) Standard Class: £9,750 per annum
2) First Class: £16,339 per annum
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether East Coast Rail has carried out any study or projections of what would be the effect of converting one carriage on the East Coast intercity from first class to second class.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
East Coast has conducted some limited analysis on the effect of converting first to standard class carriages on the franchise. Their analysis shows that standard class is not currently capacity constrained. As such, they consider that there is no immediate demand for more standard class carriages and, especially considering the upcoming introduction of the new InterCity Express trains, such a conversion is not likely to provide the best outcome for East Coast passengers or taxpayers.