Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
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 The Department cannot disclose data pertaining to 2024 as these data are unpublished and will only be available upon publication of the Department’s annual Port Freight statistics 2024, which is expected to be in summer 2025.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
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.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on safety procedures for workers on the Seagreen offshore wind farm.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State continues to have ongoing discussions with Cabinet colleagues concerning Departmental business.
Safety procedures for offshore wind farms is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HSE recently served a prohibition notice to the Seagreen offshore wind farm developer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) the offshore wind industry and (c) trade unions 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 Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State continues to have ongoing discussions with Cabinet colleagues, the offshore wind industry and trade unions concerning Departmental business.
The collision involving the Wind of Hope vessel was reported to the appropriate authorities. It will be a matter for the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9158 on Homelessness, what redress is available to a receiving Local Authority when a local authority breaches section 208 of the Housing Act 1996 by failing to notify them of an out-of-area placement.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Homelessness legislation and the Code of Guidance is clear that local authorities should place individuals within their own area, and when this is not possible, they should place the household as near as possible. The Government is clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their borough. However, this is not always possible when there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation.
Under section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, if a local authority places a household into accommodation in another local area, they are required by law to notify the local authority of any placement, to ensure there is no disruption to education or employment. This notification should be happening in every out of area placement.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
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.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
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.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of future rail passenger demand by 2050.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In line with our published guidance, the Department has developed and maintains a number of possible rail demand forecasts in both the medium and long term which we update at regular intervals. Our long-term forecasting framework extends to (and beyond) 2050. As part of this, the Department considers and includes a wide range of evidence.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Network Rail’s (a) maintenance and (b) renewal work since the start of Control Period 7 on 1 April 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport monitors Network Rail’s delivery of its work on a continuing basis and the independent rail safety and economic regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), holds Network Rail to account for its delivery of its maintenance and renewal work.
The ORR determines Network Rail’s success against its regulatory targets, set as part of the Periodic Review, and sets out its view of Network Rail’s performance periodically, including in its Annual Assessment.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many former employees were recipients of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in (a) Easington constituency and (b) the UK in October 2024.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are unable to provide the breakdown requested. However, information from the trustees shows that, as at 22 July 2024, the number of pensioner and dependant members in the UK was 39,251 and in Easington was 748.