Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department has on the number of times the Ro-Ro cargo ferry Laureline called in Purfleet port in the 2023-24 financial year.

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

According to the Department's vessel arrival statistics, in the calendar year 2023, the merchant vessel Laureline (9823352) did not call at Purfleet port. The Department cannot disclose data pertaining to 2024 as these data are unpublished and will only be available upon publication of the Department’s annual Port Freight statistics 2024, which is expected to be in summer 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which consular representatives from his Department attended the Innotrans rail trade convention in Berlin between Tuesday 24 and Friday 27 September 2024.

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

The official delegation from my department which attended InnoTrans in Berlin between 24 and 26 September was led by the Director for Rail International, Integration and Security.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the value for money of Network Rail's annual spending with Alexander Mann Solutions.

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

Network Rail contracts with Alexander Mann Solutions through the Crown Commercial Services Framework, which is subject to value for money due diligence.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding her Department has provided for signalling improvements on the Cambrian line since 2014.

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

Since 2014 my Department has allocated £3.8 million of UK Government funding for signalling improvements on the Cambrian Line.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding her Department provided to Rail Partners in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

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

The Department has not provided any funding directly to Rail Partners in 2021, 2022 or 2023.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions officials in her Department have had with the owners of Purfleet port on (a) enforcement of and (b) compliance with the Seafarers Wages Act 2024.

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

Feedback from industry has been crucial throughout the legislative process and officials have engaged extensively with ports and ferry operators on the regulations and supporting guidance, which set out the responsibilities of the ports and operators under the Act. Officials more recently engaged with the owners of Purfleet Port in workshops during the public consultation period which ran from February to March this year. Officials have also invited them to further engage in upcoming information sessions on the requirements and the application of the legislation in November.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the collision between the Wind of Hope vessel and a turbine in the Hornsea 1 offshore wind farm on 20 September 2024.

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

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch was notified of the incident via the usual channels. However, no further action was taken as it occurred outside of UK waters and the vessel is French-flagged.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) top speed and (b) tilting ability of the new Hitachi 805 trains.

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

The Hitachi-built Class 805 train has a top speed of 125mph (200km/h), which is adequate for use on the West Coast Mainline and in line with the in-service Class 390 Pendolinos. The Class 805 train, unlike the Pendolinos operated by Avanti West Coast, does not tilt. However, there is a cross-industry line speed enhancement programme underway to enable operation at up to 125mph (200km/h) without tilting.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with (a) shipowners, (b) training providers and (c) trade unions on the provision of maritime apprenticeships.

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

The UK must continue to be at the leading edge of maritime skills and provide a world-class education to benefit both UK economic growth and support a maritime sector fit for the challenges and opportunities ahead. This is why DfT officials are engaging with the Department for Education on the establishment of Skills England. Ministers will be kept updated on this work as it progresses and will hold discussions with industry and Cabinet colleagues as appropriate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the provision of maritime apprenticeships.

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

The UK must continue to be at the leading edge of maritime skills and provide a world-class education to benefit both UK economic growth and support a maritime sector fit for the challenges and opportunities ahead. This is why DfT officials are engaging with the Department for Education on the establishment of Skills England. Ministers will be kept updated on this work as it progresses and will hold discussions with industry and Cabinet colleagues as appropriate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6029 on Railways: Passengers, if he will publish those forecasts.

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

The Department develops and maintains a number of possible rail demand forecasts. These are published when appropriate to evidence policy decisions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much (a) Northern Rail, (b) London North Eastern Railway, (c) TransPennine Express and (d) Southeastern pay annually in membership fees to (i) the Rail Delivery Group and (ii) Rail Partners.

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

In 2024/25, the annual membership fee paid by each of Northern Trains Limited, London North-Eastern Railway Limited and South Eastern Trains Limited to the Rail Partners is £70,350 (exclusive of VAT). The annual membership fee paid by Transpennine Trains Limited to the Rail Partners is £57,750 (exclusive of VAT).

Rail Partners have two distinct functions – Policy and Advocacy, and Operator Services. The operators in question are currently members of the latter, which brings together industry leaders to discuss matters of operations and engineering. These memberships are historic and subject to review.

Operators do not pay a membership fee to the Rail Delivery Group but rather pay for services that are delivered on behalf of the operators, such as National Rail Enquiries.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many seafarer apprentices were in training in 2023-24.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Latest figures for the 2023/24 academic year show that there have been 50 starts on the Level 2 Seafarer (deck rating) apprenticeship standard.

Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly elections

4 day working week

TFL concessions

Anytime Single tickets with railcards

Detention and trial of Frenchie Mae Cumpio

Release of fire appliance and life-saving equipment to Palestine

UN Special Rapporteur's report on atrocity crimes in Iran

Oliver Campbell wrongful conviction

Support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency

Ticket offices and station staff