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Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Testing
Monday 5th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce a roadworthiness test for vehicles over 40 years old.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

There are currently no plans to introduce a roadworthiness test for vehicles over 40 years old.


Written Question
Railways: South East
Tuesday 1st December 2020

Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to increase the capacity, and (2) to reduce journey times, of rail services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour stations.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was necessary to revise the timetable and services operated across the SWR network. The current mainline timetable provides 89% of the number of AM peak seats at Waterloo (0700-0959) compared with the timetable pre-COVID. SWR continue to monitor customer numbers closely and have plans in place to increase the level of capacity or service provision further as passenger demand returns. With current levels of demand, there remains spare socially-distanced capacity into Waterloo in the AM peak. Journey times on the Waterloo-Portsmouth service remain broadly unchanged.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Railway Line: West Coast Railway Line
Tuesday 1st December 2020

Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential increase in capacity for commuter services on the West Coast Main Line south of Northampton after the introduction of HS2.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Once HS2 Phase 1 opens, HS2 services will run on dedicated infrastructure between London and the West Midlands, replacing long distance services that currently run on the West Coast Main Line. This will release capacity for additional services, which could include a mixture of commuter, semi-fast, regional and freight trains. No decisions have yet been made as to the train service that will operate on the West Coast Main Line once HS2 opens.

The Department for Transport has appointed West Coast Partnership Development to analyse passenger demand on the route and present options for train service patterns that best allow this demand to be met. The Secretary of State will decide on the preferred option, once it has been subject to consultation, nearer to the time that HS2 opens.