Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalties can be applied to rail operators for failure to provide adequate support for disabled passengers to access train services; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing further potential penalties.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We know that too often assistance for passengers falls short of what they need and what they deserve. Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) which must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).  An ATP sets out, amongst other things, the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use and is enforceable by the ORR.

Going forward this Government will take advantage of the benefits of an integrated and unified network to deliver a more reliable and consistent customer experience for everyone with accessibility needs. Lord Hendy committed to developing a roadmap for accessibility during the passage of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act, and this is part of our customer-focused approach to the much-needed reform of the railways.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps National Rail is taking to ensure the adequacy of cyber security at train stations.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government is committed to working with Network Rail and train operators to enhance cyber security and resilience across railway stations and the wider rail network. Within Network Rail and train operating companies there are dedicated security teams, whose job it is to monitor systems and networks to deter, detect and respond to cyber threats and recover systems should a cyber incident occur, getting them up and running again as quickly as possible.

DfT is committed to improving the management of cyber risks within the rail industry and provide greater protection to the travelling public by improving the understanding of cyber risk. DfT continues to work with Operators of Essential Services (OES) who are regulated through the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018, to ensure the UK’s most critical businesses are compliant with the necessary cyber regulations to safeguard the British public and businesses against the growing cyber threat.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to ensure that cash payment remains an option for rail passengers.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Ensuring accessibility for all passengers is at the heart of our passenger-focused approach. As modern ticketing and payment methods roll out more widely on the railways, we will ensure that all passengers, including those who need to use cash or do not have access to smartphones or the internet, are able to buy a ticket across the different retail options.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to use rail freight to help support the building of new homes.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Rail freight is a highly efficient way of transporting goods and it will be critical to supporting the Government’s target to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliament.

The mode used to transport materials for housebuilding is a commercial decision for developers to make. However, in the financial year 2023-24, 5.3 billion net tonne kilometres of construction materials were moved by rail, an increase of 8% on the previous year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has for the future of rolling stock leasing agreements.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State currently has no plans to change the way rolling stock is leased. The private sector play an important role in the rolling stock market in Great Britain. We expect rolling stock owners to continue to use their commercial, engineering and technical expertise to engage with the Department, operators and local authorities to ensure that rolling stock solutions continue to meet passenger demands whilst delivering value for money to the public purse.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned timetable is for reopening the Northumberland Line between Newcastle and Ashington.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Passenger trains will return to the Northumberland Line from Sunday 15 December 2024. The stations at Ashington and Seaton Delaval will open from that date with regular services to and from Newcastle. This is a major boost to the region and for the local communities bringing with it greater opportunities for employment, education and leisure activities plus attracting significant private sector investment.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned timetable is for opening (a) Bedlington, (b) Blyth Bebside and (c) Northumberland Park station on the Northumberland Line.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Following the opening of Ashington and Seaton Delaval on 15 December, the final four stations on the Northumberland line at Newsham, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington, and Northumberland Park are expected to open next year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 12975 on Department for Transport: Data Processing, what the operational scope is of her Department's Organisational AI programme; and which Departmental area it is placed within.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport’s Organisational AI Programme, sets out a holistic framework for the adoption of AI within the Department itself, and shares learning across the wider operational agencies and arm’s length bodies. It is led and coordinated out of the Decarbonisation, Technology and Strategy Group.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) she and (b) her predecessor has had with her counterpart in the Welsh government since July 2024.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State has not held discussions or met with her counterpart in Wales since her appointment on 29th November. Louise Haigh held discussions with her Welsh counterpart.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13063 on High Speed 2 Line: Construction, what information her Department holds on levels of compliance by contractors with the HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements contain a range of controls to ensure compliance with (amongst other things) the environmental provisions in the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act. More information is available in the HS2 Information Paper E1: Control of Environmental Impacts https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a82e5cae5274a2e87dc386e/E1_-_Control_of_Environmental_Impacts_v1.7.pdf

HS2 Ltd publishes regular reports on compliance with the Code of Construction Practice provisions on managing noise, vibration, air quality and dust impacts on local communities. Latest reports are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/monitoring-the-environmental-effects-of-hs2-2024. This is supplemented by annual reports setting out an assessment of how the HS2 programme is affecting the environment, how contractors are reducing their impact and examines progress in setting and meeting environmental controls. These reports are available here: https://www.hs2.org.uk/documents/collections/hs2-environmental-sustainability-progress-reports/

HS2 Ltd is required by the General Principles of the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Environmental Minimum Requirements to report any new significant environmental effects that exceed those which were reported in the Phase 1 Environmental Statement (as amended). A Supplementary Environmental Information report for each case is published on Gov.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sei-reports-for-new-significant-environmental-effects-on-the-hs2-phase-one-route.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has (a) met and (b) had discussions with her counterpart in Scotland since July 2024.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State has not held discussions or met with her counterpart in Scotland since her appointment on 29th November. Louise Haigh held discussions with her Scottish counterpart.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide funding for support for maritime training beyond March 2025.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Funding for the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme will be determined as part of the ongoing departmental business planning process for the financial year 2025/26. We will share more when we are able to do so.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish her Department’s plans to decarbonise (a) shipping and (b) the wider maritime sector.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Maritime has a key role to play in supporting the Governments missions, from clean energy, to growth, and supporting public health through tackling air pollution. We will shortly set our next steps for reducing the emissions from both shipping and the wider maritime sector in a forthcoming maritime decarbonisation plan, which will include a package of policy and regulatory measures.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of people who have made journeys using the £2 cap on bus fares.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport does not hold data on the number of people that have used the fare cap.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed expansion of Stansted airport on regional airports.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government has been clear that it is not opposed to airport expansion as long as it provides economic growth and is compatible with strict environmental standards.

This Government recognises the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector in the UK to deliver connectivity, including the provision of Public Service Obligations that enable protection of existing domestic routes that are in danger of being lost.

I am unable to comment on any future planning application should it come before ministers for consideration.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to publicly-owned rail operators for the cost of changes to employer National Insurance contributions made at the Autumn Budget 2024.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In line with the contracts, the Department receives revenue collected and pays most operating costs incurred by TOCs through a regular contract payment.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2024 to Question 18188 on Railways: Employers' Contributions, whether she plans to increase regular contract payments in line with the cost of changes to employer National Insurance contributions made at the Autumn Budget 2024.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Regular contract payments will take account of the increase in the cost of changes to employer National Insurance contributions made at the Autumn Budget 2024.