Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2024 to Question 12789 on Offences against Children, what steps is he taking to incorporate paragraph 35 of General Comment 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to allow the (a) police and (b) other public authorities to investigate child welfare and safeguarding when an individual is suspected of a violent animal welfare offence.

Answered by Laura Farris - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)

We believe our existing domestic legislation gives effect to the rights within the UNCRC, without the need for it to be incorporated through an additional Bill. For example, the Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004 sets out a range of duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government response to the Fifth Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2022–23 on Maritime 2050: objectives, implementation and effects, published on 24 May 2023, what progress he has made on negotiations with the Spanish Government on practices concerning conditions for seafarers on board third country flagged ships operating regular shipping routes between ports in Spain and the UK.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

On 7 July 2023, the UK and Spain signed a Memorandum of Understanding on conditions for seafarers aboard third-country flagged vessels in which we agreed to examine how we could cooperate and consider the impact of existing and new measures.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Irish Sea ferry services operators have signed the Seafarers Charter; and what progress his Department has made on reaching a bilateral agreement with the Irish Government on seafarer welfare standards on ferry services operating between the UK and Ireland.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Stena Line has committed to the Seafarers’ Charter. My Department has regular discussions with the Irish Government about co-operation on seafarer welfare.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government response to the Fifth Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2022–23 on Maritime 2050: objectives, implementation and effects, published on 24 May 2023, what his planned timetable is for the Maritime Council to produce its report nine-point plan for seafarers’ protections.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A report into the outcome of the plan would need a period of time to pass to allow for a full assessment. The Department would expect it to be incorporated into the annual report that will be published by the new Maritime Council, which is still in its first year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2024 to Question 11055 on Railway Signals: Cambridge, what his Department's timeframe is for the development of a business case for the re-signalling of Ely Junction.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The recently announced Network North programme of investment included confirmation of government’s support for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) programme and the substantial benefits this will bring, including a doubling of passenger services on the Ely to Kings Lynn and Ipswich to Peterborough routes together with additional freight paths into the Port of Felixstowe.

Network Rail have developed the scheme to Outline Business Case stage; next steps will involve further investment case development and delivery planning.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2024 to Question 11059 on Railways: Finance, how much was spent on rail enhancements in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022 and (e) 2023.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Rail enhancements are delivered through the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline, which has spent the following in each year in CP6 (including contributions to 3rd party schemes), from 2019 (figures shown in £m, nominal):

a) 2019/20: £1,475m

b) 2020/21: £1,477m

c) 2021/22: £1,685m

d) 2022/23: £1,840m

e) 2023/24: £2,156*

* (outturn data for 2023/24 is provisional and is subject to change)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policy on the use of foodbank signposting slips at Jobcentres on vulnerable households.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 19 February we introduced a new food charity signposting slip to replace the one previously used.

This does not change DWP signposting policy but improves the signposting slip to comply with our obligations under GDPR.

Our Jobcentres continue to provide customers with guidance to find additional support, including signposting to emergency food support when appropriate.

The new slip does not include any personal data. It also now provides claimants with information on where they might access emergency food locally, and wider sources of support.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) reporting mechanisms and (b) governance structures are in place to oversee spending on the Transpennine Route Upgrade project.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

TRU is overseen by a Programme Board comprising senior DfT, Network Rail, Train Operating Companies and freight industry members, it also includes independent non-Executives and an Independent Chair to ensure robust challenge. The DfT's Senior Responsible Owner retains overall accountability for successful delivery of the project.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the impact that changes in the national (a) living and (b) minimum wage commencing on 1 April 2024 will have on staffing costs in his Department; and how many staff in his Department will receive a pay uplift as a result of those changes.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 1 April 2024 the statutory National Living Wage (NLW) will be uplifted from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour, a rise of 9.8%. DWP pay NLW regardless of age.

Based on January headcount data 22,267 DWP employees will be impacted by the 2024 increase to the NLW and will require a pay uplift to meet the new NLW rate. This is estimated to cost the department £22.59m including Employer National Insurance and Pension contributions this year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates the Maritime and Coastguard Agency carried out port state control inspections of the (a) P&O Pioneer and (b) P&O Liberte ferries in Dover under the Merchant Shipping (Inspections of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships and High-Speed Passenger Craft) Regulations 2023.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The P&O PIONEER was last inspected under the EU Directive, 2017/2110 on “A system of Inspections for the safe operations of ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed craft in regular service” by the French on 17 November 2023 in the port of Calais. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carried out general inspections on board on 2 and 9 June 2023 in the ports of Dunkerque and Dover respectively.

The P&O LIBERTE was last inspected under the EU Directive, 2017/2110 on “A system of Inspections for the safe operations of ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed craft in regular service” by the French on 11 March 2024 in the port of Calais. The MCA carried out a port state control inspection on board on 7 March 2024 in the port of Dover.

The Merchant Shipping (Inspections of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships and High-Speed Passenger Craft) Regulations 2023 do not apply to these vessels as they operate to an EU member state. As set out in Regulation 2(a), a regular service is defined as a service between a port in the United Kingdom and a port of a country other than an EU member state. The Merchant Shipping (Inspections of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships and High-Speed Passenger Craft) Regulations 2023 apply to all ro-ro passenger ferries or high-speed passenger craft, which operate a regular service to or from a port in the United Kingdom either on an international voyage to a non-EU port or to another UK port in sea areas designated Class A in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000. Inspections of foreign flagged ro-ro passenger ferries or high-speed passenger craft on a regular service between the UK and a port in the European Union will be carried out under the Port State Control regime in accordance with Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2011.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that crew employment conditions on the (a) P&O Pioneer and (b) P&O Liberte ferries are compliant with the (i) ILO Maritime Labour Convention and (ii) Seafarers’ Charter.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The P&O PIONEER and P&O LIBERTE operate between the ports of Dover and Calais. These ships are subject to inspections both under the EU Directive, 2017/2110 on “A system of Inspections for the safe operations of ro-ro passenger ships and high-speed craft in regular service” and the Paris MoU port state control regime by the French and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

They are subject to two inspections under the EU directive and one port state control inspection every year. All of these inspections include verification of compliance with elements of the Maritime Labour Convention, for example: seafarer employment agreements; wages; accommodation; food and catering; leave; medical care; welfare; and health protection. Whenever surveyors from the MCA are on board these vessels, these items form part of their inspections.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the impact that changes in the national (a) living and (b) minimum wage commencing on 1 April 2024 will have on staffing costs in his Department; and how many staff in his Department will receive a pay uplift as a result of those changes.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

All HM Treasury staff are paid above the National Living Wage. The changes that take effect on 1 April 2024 will therefore have no impact on staffing costs to the Department.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the on-board catering capacity of the Class 390 Pendolino trains operated by Avanti West Coast following the refurbishment of that train fleet.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The on-board catering capacity on the refurbished Class 390 Pendolino fleet is a matter for the operator. However, officials regularly hold Avanti West Coast (AWC) to account on the on-board customer experience they provide to passengers including catering services.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the last pre-Fresh Start prison officer with reserved pension rights retired from service.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Currently there are 11 full time and 181 partially retired operational uniform staff who retained Pre-Fresh Start Reserved Rights Terms under the legacy PCSPS Classic scheme. There are also 19 partially retired Operational Managers who retained Pre-Fresh Start terms under the legacy PCSPS Classic scheme at the date of taking their benefits.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many pre-Fresh Start prison officers with reserved pension rights remain in service.

Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Currently there are 11 full time and 181 partially retired operational uniform staff who retained Pre-Fresh Start Reserved Rights Terms under the legacy PCSPS Classic scheme. There are also 19 partially retired Operational Managers who retained Pre-Fresh Start terms under the legacy PCSPS Classic scheme at the date of taking their benefits.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of Network Rail's Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) was published by Network Rail in 2020 and primarily recommended electrification as a means to decarbonise the rail network.

The TDNS was used by Government as a guide for decision making. However, alternative traction technologies, such as battery and bi-mode trains, will also play key roles in our transition to Net Zero. We are progressing work on a whole systems approach to decarbonisation by ensuring both track and train are considered.

The Government still expects electrification to play an important role in our programme to achieve our Net Zero 2050 target, which is why since 2010, more than 1,250 miles of electrification has been delivered in Great Britain, including over 900 miles in England and Wales in the last 11 years.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the mandatory employment conditions excluding national minimum wage rates which apply to seafarers working on routes between maritime ports in the territorial waters of (a) the UK and (b) France.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Extensive details of mandatory employment conditions for seafarers are set out in international conventions including the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and corresponding UK legislation.

In addition to improving working conditions through our Nine Point Plan for Seafarer Protections, the UK continues to play a leading role internationally in improving seafarer welfare.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with P&O Ferries.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We welcome P&O Ferries’ statement that it is committed to signing the Seafarers’ Charter, following Brittany Ferries, Condor, DFDS and Stena Line in committing to work towards meeting its requirements.

Following P&O Ferries’ commitment, officials met representatives of the company on Monday 18 March for a technical discussion on how compliance with the Charter requirements should be demonstrated. We anticipate further such discussions.

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 the UK signing up to the European Company for the Financing of Railroad Rolling Stock convention.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government is supportive of international initiatives to help deliver new vehicles and upgrade existing fleets that improve passenger experience and support our decarbonisation objectives. We are committed to encouraging investment in domestic and international rail services and unlocking greater private financing to support this.

My officials have engaged regularly with Eurofima, the company established by the convention, to discuss the potential opportunities and costs associated with it. However, given the significant membership requirements of Eurofima, any decision would be subject to the usual value for money considerations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recruitment process his Department followed for the recent appointment of the Director General for Rail Services on 18 March 2024.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

On 18 March 2024 the Department for Transport announced the appointment of Alex Hynes to the role of Director General for Rail Services. Alex has been appointed through a time-bound secondment agreement with Network Rail. Appropriate approvals were sought and obtained including from the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and Civil Service Commission.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the accuracy of projected future rail passenger volumes made by consultancy Steer in its report entitled Research on Long-Term Passenger Demand Growth, published on 19 February 2024.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department is aware and has reviewed the report entitled Research on Long-Term Passenger Demand Growth by Steer. Rail demand is uncertain – especially over the long term. DfT produces a range of different future rail demand and revenue scenarios in line with our published guidance which have a number of uses including supporting investment decisions. The projections produced by RIA/Steer are not aligned methodologically with the Department’s Common Analytical Scenarios (CAS).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the roads good vehicles travelling to Europe statistics for April 2023 to March 2024; and when this series will conclude.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Road Goods Travelling to Europe statistical series is currently undergoing a quality review due to a potential supplier data issue. We are working with our data supplier to assess this issue, and updates to this statistical series will resume once the matter has been resolved. Dates for future publications will be communicated via our release calendar (available at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport/about/statistics) as soon as possible. There are no immediate plans to cease this statistical series, and any future variation would be consulted on as per Code of Practice for Statistics.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 25 November 2020 to Question 120953 on Network Rail: Finance and pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 18100 on Railways: Finance, what assessment he has made of the causes of the differential in the rail enhancements budget for 2019 to 2024.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The answer provided 25 November 2020 to Question 120953 on “Network Rail: Finance” referred to the budget for rail enhancements during the years 2019-2024. The answer provided 12 March 2024 to Question 18100 on “Railways: Finance” referred to the spend on rail enhancements in each year of that period. The comparison is therefore of a budget, stated as £9.4bn after Spending Review 2020, to the spend against that budget estimated at £8.63bn over the same period. There is no differential in the rail enhancements budget implied by that comparison. The difference in the figures comes from a degree of underspending against budget in each year of the first 4 years of the period.

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Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia

Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia

Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia

Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia

Found: Presented by Jack Brereton supported by Jonathan Gullis, Jo Gideon, Eddie Hughes, Andrew Lewer, Grahame

Found: Presented by Jack Brereton supported by Jonathan Gullis , Jo Gideon , Eddie Hughes , Andrew Lewer , Grahame

Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia

Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia

Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia

Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia

Found: Morris Richard Burgon Sir Iain Duncan Smith Hywel Williams Jo Gideon Caroline Nokes Nadia