Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the terms of GWR’s National Rail contract require it to seek her permission before making any changes to (a) ticket offices, (b) staffing levels and (c) stations’ operations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Any changes to Ticket Office opening hours, in relation to regulated stations covered by Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, must be made following the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement conditions and Secretary of State guidance. The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with Great Western Railway on changes related to Ticket Offices at any of its stations.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether GWR has sought her Department’s permission to reduce ticket office opening hours through the (a) minor and (b) major change process.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Any changes to Ticket Office opening hours, in relation to regulated stations covered by Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, must be made following the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement conditions and Secretary of State guidance. The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with Great Western Railway on changes related to Ticket Offices at any of its stations.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether GWR is required to seek her permission before reducing ticket office window use at its stations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Any changes to Ticket Office opening hours, in relation to regulated stations covered by Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, must be made following the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement conditions and Secretary of State guidance. The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with Great Western Railway on changes related to Ticket Offices at any of its stations.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with GWR on reducing the size of the ticket office window at stations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Any changes to Ticket Office opening hours, in relation to regulated stations covered by Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, must be made following the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement conditions and Secretary of State guidance. The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with Great Western Railway on changes related to Ticket Offices at any of its stations.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had recent discussions with (a) maritime trade unions and (b) the UK Chamber of Shipping on the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011: post implementation review, published on 19 April 2024.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department has not had recent formal discussions with the maritime unions or the UK Chamber of Shipping on the post implementation review of the Equality Act 2010, published on 19 April 2024.
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for the compliance and enforcement of the Equality Act 2010 regulations. Enforcement is not within the remit of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspectors. However, where the MCA receives credible evidence of potential offences under legislation outside of its enforcement responsibilities then this information will be shared with the appropriate agency or agencies.
The Department has not had recent discussions with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission regarding seafarers working in UK waters. We continue to liaise with our near European neighbours as well as working through international organisations to create a step change in seafarer welfare. The Department is reviewing the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 and, if necessary, will engage with the EHRC subject to the outcome of the call for evidence and review.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to enforce the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 since those regulations were introduced.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department has not had recent formal discussions with the maritime unions or the UK Chamber of Shipping on the post implementation review of the Equality Act 2010, published on 19 April 2024.
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for the compliance and enforcement of the Equality Act 2010 regulations. Enforcement is not within the remit of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspectors. However, where the MCA receives credible evidence of potential offences under legislation outside of its enforcement responsibilities then this information will be shared with the appropriate agency or agencies.
The Department has not had recent discussions with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission regarding seafarers working in UK waters. We continue to liaise with our near European neighbours as well as working through international organisations to create a step change in seafarer welfare. The Department is reviewing the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 and, if necessary, will engage with the EHRC subject to the outcome of the call for evidence and review.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department last made an assessment of the level of compliance amongst employers in the shipping industry with the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department has not had recent formal discussions with the maritime unions or the UK Chamber of Shipping on the post implementation review of the Equality Act 2010, published on 19 April 2024.
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for the compliance and enforcement of the Equality Act 2010 regulations. Enforcement is not within the remit of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspectors. However, where the MCA receives credible evidence of potential offences under legislation outside of its enforcement responsibilities then this information will be shared with the appropriate agency or agencies.
The Department has not had recent discussions with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission regarding seafarers working in UK waters. We continue to liaise with our near European neighbours as well as working through international organisations to create a step change in seafarer welfare. The Department is reviewing the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 and, if necessary, will engage with the EHRC subject to the outcome of the call for evidence and review.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission on tackling discrimination against seafarers working in UK waters.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department has not had recent formal discussions with the maritime unions or the UK Chamber of Shipping on the post implementation review of the Equality Act 2010, published on 19 April 2024.
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for the compliance and enforcement of the Equality Act 2010 regulations. Enforcement is not within the remit of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspectors. However, where the MCA receives credible evidence of potential offences under legislation outside of its enforcement responsibilities then this information will be shared with the appropriate agency or agencies.
The Department has not had recent discussions with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission regarding seafarers working in UK waters. We continue to liaise with our near European neighbours as well as working through international organisations to create a step change in seafarer welfare. The Department is reviewing the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 and, if necessary, will engage with the EHRC subject to the outcome of the call for evidence and review.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeline is for the publication of the KPMG report into Transport for London’s financial sustainability.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government’s review into Transport for London’s future financial position continues to be a matter of live policymaking. The Government will continue to monitor the public interest test for when publication might be appropriate.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to make driving tests available for critical workers who may require them.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Following the announcement of the national lockdown in England, all practical driving lessons and tests have been suspended. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is not currently offering a critical worker service. However, essential delegated bus and emergency service testing, including ambulance tests, will continue where they are identified as a priority by bus companies, the emergency services or NHS trusts.
The DVSA will continue to keep critical worker tests under review and announce any changes on its social media platforms.