Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Norman Baker

Monday 10th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Norman Baker]

I did expect a very authoritarian question from a Labour Member. I wonder what the Labour party’s supporters in Islington and Hampstead make of its approach to Home Office questions.

The serious issue is that the CPS is currently involved in discussions with the police about rape referral levels in a number of forces. The Ministry of Justice and others are implementing the six-point plan to which the Attorney-General referred last year. The hon. Lady may also be aware that, along with the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, I have written to all chief constables and police and crime commissioners urging them to take rape even more seriously than they do already.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

8. What assessment she has made of the effect of reductions in funding to local authorities on police forces.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and Norman Baker

Thursday 23rd June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Norman Baker]

No decision has been made on that matter, although clearly there are franchise terms to be adhered to by the franchise holder, and requirements in law that must be adhered to by them and the Department. Performance is an important matter for the railway and it is something I take seriously, as does my right hon. Friend the Minister of State. I am aware of the concerns that have been expressed by passengers on the hon. Gentleman’s line and I shall be meeting railway operatives later today to discuss performance on the railway, including on his line.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

10. If he will bring forward proposals to ensure the provision of accessible public travel information for blind and partially sighted people.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Norman Baker)]

The Department is committed to improving accessible transport information that is available to enable people to plan their full journey. For example, the development of a journey planner for spectators going to the Olympics has provided an important new opportunity to achieve high standards of accessible information.

[Mr Cunningham]

I thank the Minister for that answer, but has he had any discussions with the railway operators, particularly in relation to the implications of cuts in the staffing of railway stations for people with disabilities?

[Norman Baker]

Matters relating to individual stations are, of course, ultimately ones for the franchise holder, but we have offered financial support for new information systems at more than 170 railway stations since 2006 and audio-visual passenger systems have been mandatory for all new rail vehicles since 1998.