Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in their discussions with the motor insurance industry on (1) the above-inflation increase in car insurance premiums, and (2) the wider efficiency of the motor industry marketplace.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. To deliver on this commitment, the UK Government has formed a cross-government Taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury, which met for the first time on 16th October.
The Taskforce is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and by the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The Taskforce is supported by a separate Stakeholder Panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector.
This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. It will evaluate the impact of increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) train operating companies, and (2) other stakeholders, on improving rail services to Stansted airport.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
Officials meet regularly with the owners of Stansted Airport, Manchester Airport Group, and attend the annual Stansted Airport Surface Access Forum, along with other stakeholders.
Officials also engage regularly with Greater Anglia and CrossCountry about Stansted Airport services.
As a result, off-peak and weekend Stansted Express services doubled from December 2023 to give a 15-minute frequency to London.
The aspiration for full hourly CrossCountry services from Birmingham to Stansted Airport should be met when resources allow.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Manchester Airports Group regarding its ambition to develop new long-haul airline routes from Stansted airport as a means of driving growth in the region.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
Ministers and officials regularly meet with Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to discuss a range of issues. Where opportunities for new commercial flights exist, airports and other stakeholders can work together to establish the case for commercial flights and work with airline partners to create new connections for their communities.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the airline industry regarding the expansion of long haul routes from Stansted Airport as a means of driving economic prosperity in the wider eastern England.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Department for Transport Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with airlines, airports and international partners to facilitate global connectivity. Air services between the United Kingdom and other countries are governed by a portfolio of bilateral air services agreements, which set the framework in which airlines from both countries operate. Officials continually review these agreements to ensure they remain up to date and meet the needs of airlines and airports, including Stansted Airport.
However, it is for individual airlines to determine whether to take advantage of the rights and routes available to them within any air services agreement.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the dualling of the A47 from Peterborough to Kings Lynn.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government recognises the need to improve the A47 in the East of England. That is why we are already delivering a number of schemes to improve it as part of RIS2. We are also considering the case for further improvements as part of future strategies, informed principally by National Highways evidence-led Route Strategies process.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the efficacy of the Midlands Expressway toll road.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Department for Transport (DfT) has a concession agreement with Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) to operate the M6 Toll. Under the terms of the contract, MEL owns and operates the M6 Toll at its own risk with limited contractual oversight from DfT.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for upgrading the Ely North rail junction as a means of (1) supporting economic growth, and (2) connectivity, in the East of England.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Economic and transport appraisals of the proposed upgrade to Ely North rail junction have been undertaken as part of the Outline Business Case for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme developed by Network Rail.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve co-ordination on track renewal and train operations on the railways.
Answered by Paul Maynard
It is critical that train companies and Network Rail work effectively together to deliver the standard of service that passengers expect. The new South Eastern and East Midlands franchises will be run with much closer alignment between infrastructure and train services. We will continue to develop our approach as further franchises are renewed.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve (a) rail connectivity and (b) service delivery on Cross Country Trains which run between Birmingham and Stansted and through Peterborough in the next Control Period; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard
I recently announced a new contract for the Cross Country rail franchise that will run until October 2019. This franchise offers a number of passenger experience improvements such as free wi-fi on trains. The franchise retains the same level of service between Birmingham and Stansted Airport. I am aware that there are aspirations for improvements in the Cross Country service through Peterborough. Currently, there are no suitable diesel trains available to allow this to happen. However, should this position change, we would work with Cross Country to consider what services enhancements may be possible to deliver. There may be further enhancements across the Cross Country network, once it’s competitively let in 2019.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to respond to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety constituency data on road traffic accidents, published in March 2015; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department already produces road casualty tables by local authority and parliamentary constituencies. We welcome reuse of our data in any way that helps important stakeholders understand patterns of casualties and accidents around the country. This is a good example of how making the raw data available under the Open Data agenda can allow third parties to reuse the Department’s data and add value to it.