Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many homes have been compulsorily purchased by HS2 Ltd.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
Using compulsory purchasing powers, HS2 Ltd have permanently acquired 27.28 sq km of land on Phase 1. As an acquisition may be land only or may contain a mixed-use property or properties, HS2 Ltd do not record how many contain ‘homes’. For example a farm can be (or have within it properties which are) residential, commercial, and/or agricultural, whilst the land itself could be agricultural, industrial and/or woodland. Similarly, a pub can be (and often is) both residential and commercial.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the need to bring forward the 2029 deadline for Network Rail to install tactile indicators across operational platforms.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We have continued to support the Access for All programme that upgrades railway stations, including Handforth station, for disabled passengers, and also for those with visual impairments.
I have asked Network Rail to develop a programme to aim to install platform edge tactile strips on every platform in Great Britain.
I will make a further announcement in due course.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Network Rail on work to improve station platforms for passengers with impaired vision.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We have continued to support the Access for All programme that upgrades railway stations, including Handforth station, for disabled passengers, and also for those with visual impairments.
I have asked Network Rail to develop a programme to aim to install platform edge tactile strips on every platform in Great Britain.
I will make a further announcement in due course.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the suitability of station platforms in (a) Tatton constituency and (b) England for passengers with impaired vision.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We have continued to support the Access for All programme that upgrades railway stations, including Handforth station, for disabled passengers, and also for those with visual impairments.
I have asked Network Rail to develop a programme to aim to install platform edge tactile strips on every platform in Great Britain.
I will make a further announcement in due course.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to support National Rail to complete improvements to station platforms in Tatton constituency that are hazardous to passengers with impaired vision.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We have continued to support the Access for All programme that upgrades railway stations, including Handforth station, for disabled passengers, and also for those with visual impairments.
I have asked Network Rail to develop a programme to aim to install platform edge tactile strips on every platform in Great Britain.
I will make a further announcement in due course.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on transparency of public bodies of the decision to permit HS2 Ltd to enter into non-disclosure agreements with local authorities.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The use of confidentiality agreements is a matter for HS2 Ltd and its counter signatory. HS2 Ltd sign these agreements to ensure that it can continue to work with businesses, communities and councils on issues that are sensitive. These agreements are voluntary and enable conversations about options under consideration to take place in a way that protects the commercial interests of both parties. The Government has committed HS2 Ltd to publishing the cumulative number of confidentiality agreements it has signed in its Annual Report & Accounts.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department agreed to allow non-disclosure agreements between (a) HS2 Ltd and local authorities, (b) HS2 and The National Trust and (c) HS2 Ltd and the Canal and River Trust.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The use of confidentiality agreements is a matter for HS2 Ltd and its counter signatory. HS2 Ltd sign these agreements to ensure it can continue to work with businesses, communities and councils on sensitive issues. These agreements are voluntary and enable conversations about options under consideration to take place in a way that protects the commercial interests of both parties. The Government has committed HS2 Ltd to publishing the cumulative number of confidentiality agreements it has signed in its Annual Report & Accounts.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons there are no direct Northern rail services between Liverpool and Newcastle.
Answered by Andrew Jones
TransPennine Express provides an hourly service between these cities which will soon be operated by brand new 125mph-capable intercity bi-mode trains.
There is no requirement in the current Northern franchise agreement for Northern to run direct services from Liverpool to Newcastle.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to his Department for financial year 2018-19 for planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and how much of that funding has been spent.
Answered by Lord Grayling
My Department was allocated up to £76.8m for EU Exit preparations in this financial year for all scenarios. £15.8m of this funding has been spent.