Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will instruct Highways England to carry out a survey of the drainage pipes buried in the verges of the M6 where it runs close to Galgate.
Answered by Jesse Norman
This is an operational matter for Highways England.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2017 to Question 116525, what discussions his Department has had with (a) local authorities and (b) other partners on re-opening the Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde rail line as part of the Government's strategic vision for rail.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As indicated in the Government’s strategic vision for rail, any scheme seeking Government funding will need to demonstrate a strong business case. The Department for Transport will consider proposals on a case by case basis, based on the economic benefits put forward. We stand ready to consider a Strategic Outline Business Case for the re-opening of the Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde rail line put forward by local authorities and other partners.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have been appointed as members of the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Expert Committee to date.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Following discussion with various stakeholders, the Department has established a stakeholder advisory group to hold the Government to account for the delivery of the Strategy, and ensure that its cycling and walking policies are informed by regular dialogue with the relevant organisations. This replaces the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Expert Committee and this group met for the first time in October 2017, with it due to meet on a quarterly basis. Ministers and officials also continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders on a regular basis to discuss issues such as the Cycle Safety Review.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Taxis) (Carrying of Guide Dogs etc) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Private Hire Vehicles) (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003 to enable notices of exemption to be displayed in large print or with tactile features incorporated.
Answered by John Hayes
Sections 68 and 70 of the Equality Act 2010 confirm the right of assistance dog owners to travel by taxi or private hire vehicle free from the fear of discrimination.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Taxis) (Carrying of Guide Dogs etc) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Private Hire Vehicles) (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003 specify the form of exemption notices displayed by taxsi and private hire vehicle drivers who are medically unfit to fulfil the related duties.
I understand that it can be difficult for visually impaired people to identify genuine exemption notices presented to them, and officials have discussed with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association alternative options, including the provision by licensing authorities of an additional non-statutory notice in Braille and large print.
We currently have no plans to amend Regulations.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department plans to use to determine whether to grant consent to franchising authorities which make an application for franchising powers under the Bus Services Act 2017.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department has recently published guidance on bus franchising which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-services-act-2017-bus-franchising-creation
The Act provides automatic access to franchising powers to mayoral combined authorities. The criteria the Secretary of State will use to determine whether to grant consent to non-mayoral combined authorities will focus on whether the authority in question has clear and locally supported aspirations which will benefit passengers and a sensible plan in place, as well as the right capabilities to make franchising a success.
The Secretary of State meets local authorities, including non-mayoral authorities, on a regular basis. We do not comment on the content of individual meetings.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department plans to give to bus service franchising authorities which are considering applying for franchising powers under the Bus Services Act 2017.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department has recently published guidance on bus franchising which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-services-act-2017-bus-franchising-creation
The Act provides automatic access to franchising powers to mayoral combined authorities. The criteria the Secretary of State will use to determine whether to grant consent to non-mayoral combined authorities will focus on whether the authority in question has clear and locally supported aspirations which will benefit passengers and a sensible plan in place, as well as the right capabilities to make franchising a success.
The Secretary of State meets local authorities, including non-mayoral authorities, on a regular basis. We do not comment on the content of individual meetings.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with any bus services franchising authorities which are not a mayoral combined authority on the use of the Bus Services franchising powers.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department has recently published guidance on bus franchising which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-services-act-2017-bus-franchising-creation
The Act provides automatic access to franchising powers to mayoral combined authorities. The criteria the Secretary of State will use to determine whether to grant consent to non-mayoral combined authorities will focus on whether the authority in question has clear and locally supported aspirations which will benefit passengers and a sensible plan in place, as well as the right capabilities to make franchising a success.
The Secretary of State meets local authorities, including non-mayoral authorities, on a regular basis. We do not comment on the content of individual meetings.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to introduce regulations requiring operators of local bus services to make information available on buses in the form of announcements about forthcoming stops.
Answered by Jesse Norman
I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of the 6th December to UIN 116055.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will re-open the Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde rail line as part of the Government's strategic vision for rail.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government is working with local authorities and other partners to identify the best new rail projects that can unlock new housing and economic growth, ease overcrowding, meet future demand and offer good value for money.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people born on 3 May 2000 or earlier are in possession of a provisional or permanent driving licence registered in (a) Woking, (b) Gosport, (c) Bromley or (d) Watford local authority who are aged (i) under 24, (ii) 25 to 49, (iii) 50 to 64 and (iv) 65 or older.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The link below provides data already published on the number of driving licences held in Great Britain by age and by postcode.
https://data.gov.uk/dataset/driving-licence-data