Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish details of expenditure by HS2 Ltd on artworks in (a) 2019 (b) 2020 and (c) 2021 by (a) cost, (b) name and (c) description of each item.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with the Government’s transparency agenda, HS2 Ltd publishes data for all payments over £25,000 and any payments over £500 made using corporate purchasing cards. This information is available on gov.uk
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent by HS2 Ltd on real or artificial plants for use in HS2 offices in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with the Government’s transparency agenda, HS2 Ltd publishes data for all payments over £25,000 and any payments over £500 made using corporate purchasing cards. This information is available on gov.uk
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent by HS2 Ltd on portraits, such as a painting, drawing or engraving of a photographic portrait, or headshots of a person such as a member of staff, in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with the Government’s transparency agenda, HS2 Ltd publishes data for all payments over £25,000 and any payments over £500 made using corporate purchasing cards. This information is available on gov.uk
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent by HS2 Ltd on alcoholic drinks in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Expense claims for alcoholic drinks are not permitted within the travel and expense policy.
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent by HS2 Ltd on advertising and media relation agencies in (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In line with the Government’s transparency agenda, HS2 Ltd publishes data for all payments over £25,000 and any payments over £500 made using corporate purchasing cards. This information is available on gov.uk
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reconcile the different requirements of Sections 143(i) and 185 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 with Articles 1 and 3 of the Motor Insurance Directive 2009 with reference to the 2014 European Court of Justice judgment in Vnuk.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The issue of the impact of the Vnuk judgment on motor insurance in the UK is an important one. We understand the implications on motor sports, motorists and other road users, and the concerns raised by the insurance industry including the Motor Insurers Bureau. During the transition period, EU law continues to apply to the UK through the EU Withdrawal Act and options for after that period will be for Government to decide.
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will take steps to ensure that the Motor Insurers’ Bureau is not required to compensate injured parties beyond its obligations under the Road Traffic Act.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The issue of the impact of the Vnuk judgment on motor insurance in the UK is an important one. We understand the implications on motor sports, motorists and other road users, and the concerns raised by the insurance industry including the Motor Insurers Bureau. During the transition period, EU law continues to apply to the UK through the EU Withdrawal Act and options for after that period will be for Government to decide.
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to (a) monitor and (b) mitigate potential safety matters during the trial of e-scooters on roads.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department is preparing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan for e-scooter trials which will assess safety impacts. The regulations to enable trials will set requirements for e-scooter users, among other changes, will set a maximum speed for e-scooters. We are also specifying minimum standards for the e-scooters participating in trials. These steps mitigate potential safety risks and we will keep this under review as trials progress.
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to reports that the Chair of HS2 Ltd, Mr Allan Cook has written to his Department stating the high-speed line cannot be delivered within its £56bn budget, what steps he is taking to update Parliament on the new cost projections for High Speed Two; when he plans to publish the findings of Mr Cook’s review; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Prime Minister has appointed Douglas Oakervee to chair an independent review of HS2 to consider whether and how we proceed with the project. The review will consider all existing evidence on the project and consider a number of aspects of the programme, including its benefits and impacts; affordability and efficiency; deliverability; and scope and phasing, including its relationship with Northern Powerhouse Rail. The Review’s full terms of reference are available on gov.uk. Allan Cook’s findings will be part of the evidence for this review.
A final report will be sent to the Department in the autumn to inform the Government’s decision on the next steps for the project. We will publish this Review and take decisions on the HS2 project once we have considered the findings.
The Government has published Allan Cook's assessment and is available in the libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress the Government has made on improving transport infrastructure in areas with a high number of new build homes.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government has invested £1.2bn through the Housing Infrastructure Fund to support housing and further announcements through this £5.5bn fund are expected later this year. A significant number of HIF bids include transport infrastructure.
The Government is also investing in transport supporting new home construction through the Transforming Cities Fund, Major Road Network, and projects in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, and it is promoting integrated housing and transport planning, for example through the revised National Planning Policy Framework.