Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with representatives from Manchester Airport on the potential impact of the level of parking charges at Manchester Airport on passengers from (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) North Staffordshire.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws.
Whilst the Department does engage regularly with airports on a range of operational issues, the provision and charging of car parking at airports is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the release of HS2 compensation for residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, would gladly meet the Honourable Member to discuss land and property related compensation for residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the number of crimes reported on West Coast Mainline trains between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly in each of the last five years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the rail network in Great Britain including the West Coast Mainline. They have provided the following figures, covering all types of crime, reported between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly on Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Railway trains and stations operated by them on this route.
2020: 1,248
2021: 1,363
2022: 1,894
2023: 2,210
2024 (to August 31st): 1,590
It is important to note that for the reporting years 2020 and 2021, overall passenger numbers on the rail network were significantly reduced due to travel restrictions implemented in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Passenger numbers continue to increase across the entire rail network - in 2023/24, there was a 16% increase on the previous year.
The BTP is committed to tackling crime across the rail network and they work closely with the Train Operating Companies to target offenders on a daily basis.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce food waste in her Department.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government is committed to improving its own impact upon the environment. The Greening Government Commitments requires departments and agencies to measure and report to Defra on food waste for estates with over 50 full time equivalent staff and or over 500m2 floor area offering a food service.
The Department is taking a number of steps to measure and reduce food waste. At our London headquarters building the catering provider is a signatory to the industry-wide WRAP Courtauld 2030 commitment, which includes reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.
At our other site where we have onsite catering arrangements we work with food charities to donate surplus food items at the end of each day (as required). On site staffing forecasts are also provided in order to determine daily food quantities required. This minimises the risk of over-ordering and reduces food waste.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the adequacy of the (a) bus network and (b) existing transport infrastructure in Madeley.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to delivering better buses for passengers throughout England, and I would be happy to meet to discuss local bus services in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to ensure that people in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency are paid the HS2 compensation that they are owed.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone owed compensation, whether in Newcastle-under-Lyme or anywhere along the HS2 route, should receive it as soon as possible once it falls due. I will continue to impress upon HS2 Ltd the necessity of working closely with claimants and their agents to ensure that claims are properly evidenced and then paid promptly.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with Staffordshire County Council on the condition of road surfaces in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency; and if she will visit Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency to assess the condition of road surfaces.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I welcome conversations with local authorities, including Staffordshire County Council, to better understand the challenges that they face with regards to maintenance of the local highway network. I look forward to receiving an invite and further details in due course.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to improve the bus network in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will pass the Better Buses Bill to put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, to ensure networks can meet the needs to the communities who rely on them, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
We also plan to empower local transport authorities through reforming bus funding. By giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding they can plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities. The Department will work closely with local leaders and bus operators to deliver on the government’s ambitions.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the service provided by Avanti West Coast.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The performance of Avanti West Coast (AWC) has been inadequate, with too many cancellations and delays. Poor Network Rail infrastructure reliability has also contributed to the disruption experienced by passengers. The Secretary of State met with the Managing Director of AWC and the Network Rail Route Director on 16 July to challenge them on poor performance and demand immediate action to deliver urgent improvements.