Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will extend eligibility for the Blue Badge parking scheme to people diagnosed with dementia.
Answered by Andrew Jones
People with mental and cognitive conditions can already receive Blue Badges, but we are looking at how the scheme works for those with non-physical conditions in order to ensure it is fair and consistent. However, it would be inappropriate to extend eligibility on the basis of particular conditions as each person will be affected differently and have specific needs.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many crossings across traffic are planned to be closed on the A1 (a) southbound and (b) northbound.
Answered by John Hayes
The current major works on the A1 from Leeming to Barton in North Yorkshire will result in six permanent gap closures. These gaps will be accessed via a new local road and alternative routes alongside the new motorway for the benefit of the local community. Access to the new motorway will be via a new junction at Catterick and an improved junction at Scotch Corner.
Over the next two months three, maintenance schemes will require temporary gap closures on the A1 at Highfields roundabout, near Berwick; between Lane Head to Old Swarland in Northumberland; and at Buckden (Brampton Rail Bridge) in Cambridgeshire. The affected gaps on the A1 will be re-opened on completion of their respective maintenance works.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which organisations his Department has formally consulted on the location of the proposed High Speed 2 station in South Yorkshire.
Answered by Andrew Jones
High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd carried out a public consultation on proposals for the HS2 Phase 2 route in 2013 on behalf of the Department for Transport. This contained the location of potential HS2 stations, including South Yorkshire.
Appendix A of the consultation summary report lists the organisations that responded to the consultation:
The Government will make an announcement on the HS2 Phase Two route, of which South Yorkshire is a part, later this year. A public consultation on the route in this area will be issued at the same time as the announcement.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that high speed rail will interconnect effectively with the rest of the transport network.
Answered by Lord McLoughlin
HS2 will not be a separate, standalone railway. It will be an integrated part of a 21st Century transport network.
Through our interchange stations, classic compatible trains and exploitation of the released capacity we will deliver the integrated service that passengers need. Our work with local areas to implement Growth Strategies will ensure HS2 integrates with local transport networks.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the connectivity of the proposed High Speed 2 station in South Yorkshire to other Sheffield city region train and bus stations.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
In March 2012 HS2 Ltd published Options for Phase Two of the High Speed Rail Network setting out the route and station options for Phase Two of HS2.This report sets out the connectivity proposals around the recommended South Yorkshire station at Meadowhall.
In addition to this local areas are aware of the unique opportunity that HS2 presents to deliver a step change in local growth on and around the route, and have developed plans to capitalise on this. These plans include the creation of integrated proposals for improved local and sub-regional connectivity to HS2.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what upgrades are planned for Newmarket railway station.
Answered by Claire Perry
There are plans already in development to improve lighting at Newmarket station which will be undertaken in the early years of the new franchise due to start in October 2016.
For the new East Anglia franchise we have adopted a new stations policy. This requires a 40 year Stations Asset Management Plan along with a 10 year Station Social and Commercial Development Plan. This will ensure the bidders target the provision of services at stations according to the volume and needs of passengers at the individual station. We expect bidders to plan for investments to improve the station environment and facilities for passengers as part of a 40 year station strategy.
Theformation of a Station Social and Commercial Development Plan involves consulting with users and the local community on concerns, issues, opportunities and risks relating to individual stations and the priorities for investment.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail and Suffolk County Council on increasing the number of services stopping at Newmarket railway station.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Secretary of State has held no discussions with Network Rail and Suffolk County Council on increasing the number of services stopping at Newmarket station.
The issues of future passenger and freight demand, route capacity and service levels have been considered in Network Rail’s Anglia Route Study; and will be considered by the Department in future planning cycles.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the options for a transport tunnel connecting Sheffield and Manchester city regions.
Answered by Andrew Jones
In November, the Secretary of State received the interim report of the Strategic Study into a potential Trans-Pennine Tunnel. This early work has shown that a tunnel is technically feasible, and that there is a clear strategic case for linking the Manchester and Sheffield city regions.
However further work is needed into the costs and economic benefits of such a tunnel before any judgement can be reached about whether or not it will be value for money. The full report of the study, due in 2016, should address these issues.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many crossings there are on the A1.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Highways England are responsible for about 705 road, foot, equestrian, river and farm bridge crossings of the A1 from the junction with the M25 to the England/Scotland border.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons retention bonuses have been paid to Network Rail executives; and what his policy is on the further payment of such bonuses.
Answered by Claire Perry
In the latter half of Control Period 4 (2009-14) it became clear that Network Rail faced serious Executive retention risks which threatened leadership continuity. Accordingly, at the company’s 2012 Annual General Meeting, Network Rail’s members agreed one-off performance related retention payments for three Executive Directors if they remained in post for the entirety of the Control Period. These retention payments were implemented when Network Rail was a private sector company limited by guarantee.
On 1 September Network Rail was reclassified to the public sector. As an arm’s-length public sector body, it must use public money proportionately and with probity and ensure that reward and remuneration do not go beyond what is needed to ensure sustained high performance. As part of new governance arrangements, Executive Director remuneration will be set by Network Rail’s Remuneration Committee but must be approved by the Secretary of State and the Chief Secretary to HM Treasury. Under the company’s remuneration policy for Control Period 5 (2014-19), no further retention payments can be awarded to serving Directors.