Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the new direct railway line from Cambridge to Oxford will be completed; and when the first (1) passenger, and (2) goods, trains will run in each direction
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The full East West Rail (EWR) scheme (Oxford to Cambridge) is planned to be delivered, and operational for passenger and freight services, by the end of the decade. We are currently working hard with the East West Railway Company and Network Rail to develop the right future service patterns for the scheme. This will help ensure that EWR objectives are achieved and provide the best possible connectivity for the communities and customers.
Plans, including costs, for the whole scheme are still in development. We will release further details in due course.
Environmental implications and ensuring economic sustainability have been important parts of the decision-making process for the EWR scheme.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks, if any, for UK shipping crossing the eastern Mediterranean.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Transport regularly assesses the risks posed to British-flagged shipping worldwide. Utilising the fusion approach to security, we work with the UK Defence and Intelligence Community to monitor events in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This information informs the guidance and advice we promulgate to industry.
Where a new threat is identified, we advise the industry accordingly, so they can review and adapt their risk assessment and operating procedures.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the resilience of the inter-island transport system in the Scilly Isles.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government fully recognises the importance of the Isles of Scilly’s inter-island transport network which allows for the provision of vital services to islanders, including ensuring that children can attend school. As such we have been engaging with local stakeholders from the outset of the current crisis and have provided bespoke financial support to Isles of Scilly transport operators to ensure that services to, from and between the islands continue.
Our immediate priority is to support the islands’ transport network through the pandemic. However, we are aware that the Isles of Scilly Transport Board are working on proposals to improve transport services over the longer term and look forward to discussing their proposals with them in due course. Going forward, DfT officials will continue to engage with local stakeholders to ensure that we fully understand the challenges facing the islands well into the future.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to upgrade transport between islands in the Scillies to enable better access for children to get to school.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government fully recognises the importance of the Isles of Scilly’s inter-island transport network which allows for the provision of vital services to islanders, including ensuring that children can attend school. As such we have been engaging with local stakeholders from the outset of the current crisis and have provided bespoke financial support to Isles of Scilly transport operators to ensure that services to, from and between the islands continue.
Our immediate priority is to support the islands’ transport network through the pandemic. However, we are aware that the Isles of Scilly Transport Board are working on proposals to improve transport services over the longer term and look forward to discussing their proposals with them in due course. Going forward, DfT officials will continue to engage with local stakeholders to ensure that we fully understand the challenges facing the islands well into the future.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of (1) the Apostleship of the Sea, (2) the Mission to Seafarers, and (3) other UK based maritime worker welfare charities.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department recognises the role charities can play in addressing the hardships currently impacting transport workers, however the DfT does not conduct assessment of any charities, including those in the maritime sector.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 20 July (HL6506), what is the median length of time that foreign national crew have spent stranded in UK ports; what is the cost of the repatriation programme; and whether they claim back the costs of repatriation from ship owners.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We do not have median figures. The Department began work on facilitating repatriation 90 days ago (as at 29 July). At that time there were 11,374 crew in the UK. To date we have facilitated the repatriation of over 13,000 seafarers and there are currently 4,258 awaiting repatriation.
Many vessels arriving in the UK are able to repatriate large numbers of seafarers over the 2-3 days after arrival. However, for seafarers from certain countries the length of time in the UK will be longer due to restrictions in their own state.
It should also be noted that seafarers arriving in the UK may still be under their original contract and, outside the pandemic conditions, would not be due to be repatriated. The cost of repatriation is met by the shipping company and not by the Government.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) vessels, and (2) crew members, registered abroad, currently stranded in UK ports.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are currently 4,028 Foreign National crew on board 25 cruise vessels that are not registered in the UK or within the wider Red Ensign Group. 1,250 of these crew require repatriation.
We have so far repatriated 7,752 Foreign National crew from cruise ships not registered with the UK or the wider Red Ensign Group.
We continue to work with the industry, unions and maritime charities to provide support and assistance to all seafarers in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Transport for London about (1) cleanliness, and (2) hygiene, on the services that organisation operates.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Ministers and officials at the Department for Transport have been meeting regularly with Transport for London (TfL) throughout the Covid-19 outbreak to discuss a wide range of topics, including cleanliness and hygiene on the London transport network.
TfL has introduced an enhanced cleaning regime to ensure that its network is as sterile as possible, including using hospital-grade cleaning substances and new anti-viral disinfectant that protects for up to 30 days. It has also installed hand sanitiser points for customer use across the network.
The Department is satisfied with the actions that TfL has taken and continues to take, to provide a safe transport network for those who need to use it.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) cleanliness, and (2) hygiene, on passenger trains in England.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have been clear that our priority remains the safety of staff and passengers. We have issued comprehensive guidance to the public transport operators, including rail operators, on keeping trains clean and ensuring staff and passengers are able to maintain good hygiene.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop the (1) availability, and (2) regularity, of transport links between mainland UK and the Isles of Scilly.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
On Friday 24 April, the Government announced up to £10.5 million for lifeline ferry and freight services to the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight as part of a multimillion pound support package to safeguard the transport links which provide essential lifeline services to the islands.
The Department is engaging with local stakeholders, including the local transport board, to maintain the transport links throughout this current period and beyond which are normally provided commercially by profit-making operators.