Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the annual contribution to the public purse from franchise holders on the east coast mainline in each of the last 20 years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Payments received from operators of the east coast mainline are published by ORR and can be found on their website.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is his policy to bring forward legislative proposals to mandate disability equality training for taxi and minicab drivers.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services must be accessible to those who rely upon them, and disability awareness and equality training can be effective in equipping drivers with the skills and knowledge to provide all passengers with the assistance they require. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Accessibility Action Plan which will inform the updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities.
It is the Department’s expectation that the guidance will include a recommendation that authorities should use their existing powers to require prospective drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training.
The working group established by the then Minister of State (John Hayes MP) to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing will report its findings shortly. There are no existing plans to bring legislation to mandate this training.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department (a) has drafted or (b) is drafting a market access commission on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Answered by John Hayes
We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU.
The Government is examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU.
Our department works closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these issues.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department (a) has carried out or (b) is carrying out a market access assessment on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Answered by John Hayes
We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU.
The Government is examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU.
Our department works closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these issues.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has established a market access commission on the implications of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Answered by John Hayes
We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU.
The Government is examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU.
Our department works closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that they are informed of our understanding of these issues.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2017 to Question 1331, whether bilateral air services arrangements with all EU member states will still apply in the event that the UK leaves the EU air travel regime.
Answered by John Hayes
The nature of the UK’s future air services relationship with the EU and Member States will be determined through the UK’s negotiations for an orderly exit from the EU.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list all the bilateral agreements between the UK and EU member states relating to air travel which predate the current EU air travel regime and which were current when that regime was adopted; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Hayes
Prior to the current EU air travel regime coming into effect, the UK had bilateral air services arrangements with all Member States of the European Union.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide financial support for the soundproofing of properties affected by noise from the High Speed 2 line.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Where noise from the construction of HS2 is likely to impact a person’s home by exceeding the relevant limits, the Government will offer to install noise insulation in the property, or pay for the costs of installing noise insulation. Noise insulation will also be offered to eligible properties that experience noise impacts above the relevant limits from the operation of HS2 services.