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Written Question
North Wales Coast Line: Electrification
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a timetable for the development of the (a) strategic outline case, (b) outline business case and (c) full business case for the electrification of the North Wales Main Line.

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

We are working closely with the rail industry to develop the Government priorities outlined in the Prime Minister’s Network North announcement, which includes an unprecedented £1 billion investment to fund the electrification of the North Wales Main Line. We are in the early stages of establishing the next steps for the North Wales electrification scheme, including the costs and programme for development and delivery. We will share further information when that work is complete.


Written Question
North Wales Coast Line: Electrification
Thursday 18th January 2024

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of the electrification of the North Wales mainline.

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

As part of the Prime Minister’s Network North announcement, the Government committed an unprecedented £1 billion investment to fund the electrification of the North Wales Main Line. We continue to work through the next steps for developing and delivering the scheme.


Written Question
Motorway Service Areas: Charging Points
Friday 24th March 2023

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to (a) accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle infrastructure to motorway service areas and (b) ensure those areas are able to access the rapid charging fund.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Government is working closely with motorway service area (MSA) operators to support them in the rollout of electric vehicle chargepoints. Over 97% of MSAs in England currently have rapid charging available. As of March 2023, MSAs in England support drivers with more than 400 open access chargepoints, over 230 of which are rapid (50kW), and over 200 are ultra-rapid (150kW+).

This Government will continue to engage with industry on the development of the Rapid Charging Fund (RCF) to understand their views and gain insight. As part of the RCF, the Government will also identify areas that will be most in need of funding along the strategic road network.


Written Question
Electric Vehicles: Charging Points
Thursday 23rd March 2023

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress the Government has made on beginning the application process for the rapid charging fund.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Government is working closely with key stakeholders, including all the motorway service area operators in England, on the development of the Rapid Charging Fund (RCF) and its pilot. The Government is also working on a number of milestones for the RCF this year, including a pilot and a public consultation.


Written Question
Railways: Wales
Monday 27th February 2023

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there are plans to adapt the Integrated Rail Plan forward programme to include consequential funding for Wales under the Barnett formula.

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

The Barnett formula is a matter for the Treasury. The Barnett formula applies to changes in UK Government departments’ funding and has been applied in the usual way, as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, in relation to funding for the IRP.

The Government has committed to delivering the IRP as set out in November 2022. The plans set out in the IRP will bring benefits to Wales including making it easier for passengers from North Wales to access HS2 services.


Written Question
Department for Transport: Written Questions
Thursday 19th January 2023

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of (a) ordinary and (b) named-day written questions their Department answered on time in 2022.

Answered by Jesse Norman

(a) 100%

(b) 99.7%


Written Question
Vegetable Oils
Thursday 8th December 2022

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase the supply of hydrogenated vegetable oil in the UK.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) is the Government’s primary mechanism for supporting the supply of renewable fuels such as hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). While the RTFO does not incentivise specific fuels, fuels produced from wastes receive additional support under the scheme, this includes HVO produced from waste feedstocks. More information on how the RTFO encourages the supply of low carbon fuels, such as HVO, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renewable-transport-fuels-obligation


Written Question
Diesel and Vegetable Oils: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Wednesday 7th December 2022

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the annual average greenhouse gas emissions from (a) hydrogenated vegetable oil and (b) diesel.

Answered by Jesse Norman

Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), like other renewable fuels, is eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The RTFO is a certificate trading scheme that requires large suppliers of transport fuel to ensure a percentage of the total fuel they supply is from renewable sources. The RTFO further incentivises HVO produced from waste feedstocks, such as tallow or used cooking oil, by awarding double the renewable transport fuel certificates (RTFCs) compared to crop derived fuels.

Like all low carbon fuels supported under the RTFO, the Department regularly reports on the carbon savings achieved from HVO. In 2021, HVO provided an average 89% carbon reduction compared to a fossil fuel comparator. Full statistical reports are published quarterly on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renewable-fuel-statistics.


Written Question
Vegetable Oils: Prices
Wednesday 7th December 2022

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has (a) taken recent steps to help reduce and (b) had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the price of hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The price of HVO is ultimately driven by market conditions and production costs, however, the operation of the RTFO is the Government’s primary mechanism for addressing the cost difference between fossil fuels and renewable fuels such as HVO.

Ministers have not had any conversation with Cabinet colleagues recently regarding price of HVO specifically. But the Government recognises the important contribution that fuels such as HVO can play as it works to decarbonise transport.


Written Question
Electric Scooters
Monday 7th November 2022

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to undertake a review of the power, weight and speed specifications of rental and private e-scooters.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The number of reported personal injury road collisions involving e-scooters is published as part of the Department’s road casualty statistics. These show that there were 460 reported collisions involving e-scooters in 2020, and 1,352 in 2021. Provisional figures covering the period to June 2022 are scheduled for publication on 24 November.

The Department is currently considering options for construction and use regulations for e-scooters, which will likely include requirements for details such as power, weight and maximum design speed. No final decisions about e-scooter regulations have been made and the Department will consult publicly before any new arrangements come into force.