Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on replacing the Northern Rail franchise.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We are developing contingency plans for the replacement of the current franchise with either a new short-term management contract with Northern or the Operator of Last Resort (OLR). If we find the operator to be in default of its current contract and that default was material and not capable of remedy, we have the right to terminate the current franchise. If such a right is exercised, a decision on next steps will be based on a full and rigorous analysis into what delivers the best outcomes for passengers and taxpayers and what would best enable the implementation of the forthcoming recommendations of the Williams Review.
We will take a decision once we have the full information, and will provide Parliament with a full update on these next steps at the appropriate time.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the rail industry is accountable to Government.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department works closely with the rail industry to ensure it is held accountable, with regular meetings between industry and Ministers and officials. A number of robust reporting and risk management processes are in place to support this work. The Williams Rail Review will also consider the role of the Department as part of its thinking on wider reform.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to allow the Northern Rail franchise to be publicly run.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Alongside Transport for the North, who co-manage the franchise, our absolute priority is delivering the services that passengers expect. At a time when performance is improving and brand-new trains have been successfully introduced onto the network only this week to replace the unpopular and dated Pacers, major change could result in significant disruption. We see no reason at this stage to consider making changes to the franchise.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the wearing of helmets compulsory for cyclists.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Government’s 2018 cycling and walking safety review considered this matter carefully. The Government’s response to the safety review, published in November 2018, summarises the arguments for and against making helmets compulsory, and explains the Government’s position. In short, the Government will continue to encourage cyclists to wear helmets, but believes that this should remain a matter of individual choice. The Government has committed to undertake three actions over the next two years as part of its cycling and walking safety action plan. First, it will continue to promote and encourage cyclists to wear helmets, especially children. Secondly, the Government will provide strengthened advice on fitting of cycle helmets for children, as part of wider advice on use of safety equipment and attire when cycling. Thirdly, the Government will review evidence and international experience on mandatory helmets for children and provide clear guidance to help parents choose what is appropriate for their child.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will fund local authorities to provide free bus travel for people under the age of 25.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Local authorities are currently empowered to offer local travel concessions under concessionary travel legislation. If they wish to do so, local authorities are able to offer discounted travel to young people. In addition, bus operators can offer discounted travel for young people - bus operators in 71 of the 89 TCA areas in England outside of London offered some form of discounted travel for young people in 2018/19. In addition, there is a statutory scheme for certain eligible children to receive free school transport.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to prevent taxi drivers from refusing to take passengers with guide dogs.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Sections 168 and 170 of the Equality Act 2010 already require taxi and PHV drivers to accept passengers accompanied by assistance dogs without charging them extra. The Government expects drivers to comply with the law and encourages local licensing authorities to take robust action against those unwilling to do so. Drivers convicted of a relevant offence face fines of up to £1000.
The Government is considering what further action might be required to eliminate illegal discrimination against assistance dog owners, and has accepted the recommendation of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and PHV licensing that drivers should be required to complete disability awareness training through the introduction of National Minimum Standards. We will bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time permits.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much Government subsidy the Northern railway franchise will receive in the next financial year.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The originally contracted annual subsidy amount payable to Arriva Rail North for 2019/20 was £221m in 2015/16 prices.
However, these amounts will be subject to a number of changes in line with the provisions of the contract, many of which are not currently quantified and won’t be finalised until the after the financial year has ended.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to resolve the industrial dispute affecting the Northern Rail network.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The industrial dispute is a matter between Northern, its employees and their union representative in which the Government cannot intervene directly. However, the Government is keen for these strikes to end. They are having a big impact on the people and businesses of so many communities across the North. The Government has written to the Rail North Partnership (through which the Department and Transport for the North co-manage the Northern franchise) expressing our clear support for a second member of staff on Northern trains who is focused on delivering excellent customer service. Northern have now confirmed to the RMT that there will continue to be a second appropriately trained member of staff on board the trains, and have guaranteed jobs and pay will be protected. The Government therefore continues to call on both parties to engage in talks and resolve the dispute.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will end the toll on the Mersey Gateway Bridge.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government has no plans to end tolling on the Mersey Gateway Bridge. This is a responsibility for Halton Borough Council.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of merits of lowering the age of eligibility for the older person’s bus pass to 60 years old nationwide.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Restoring the previous age of eligibility for concessionary bus travel to sixty would re-create the anomaly of some non-disabled people of working-age, some of whom may be on significant wages, being entitled to a free bus pass, which was not the original intention of the national bus concessionary scheme. Re-establishing the link between concessionary bus pass eligibility and the state pension age addresses that issue and will also help the financial sustainability of the scheme.
Local authorities have the discretion to offer concessionary travel to those who are yet to reach the qualifying age, such as have been introduced in London and Liverpool.