Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of new jobs in the rail industry that will be created (a) directly and (b) indirectly as a result of the new rolling stock procured through the Intercity Express Programme for service on the (i) Great Western and (ii) East Coast Main Lines.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains will be assembled at Hitachi’s newly built manufacturing plant at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham – creating around 730 permanent jobs in addition to jobs during the construction phase. Further jobs are being created in the construction phase of new and refurbished depots in support of the IEP. In addition, Hitachi Rail Europe also expects to grow its total UK staff from 200 to 1,800 within three years. Hitachi also expects to create hundreds more jobs in the UK manufacturing sector and wider transport supply chain as a result of IEP. Hitachi has already awarded 32 contracts to UK-based companies in relation to IEP.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) UK Chamber of Shipping and (b) European Community Shipowners Association on pay rates for seafarers subject to UK National Insurance payments employed on vessels working from UK ports; and if he will request data on pay rates from maritime employers' associations.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Ministers have not had direct discussions with either body but dialogue at Ministerial and official level is continuing with relevant bodies on the wider agenda of seafarer pay.
The Department is currently reviewing the statistical data it uses and other data sources that may be relevant for future use but this does not include an objective to collect pay rates as this is undertaken by other Departments.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what civil service restrictions will be removed should the Highways Agency be moved to a GoCO.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Government intends to turn the Highways Agency (HA) into a government-owned Strategic Highways Company (SHC), as confirmed in the response to consultation published on 30th April. As announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in June 2013, the new company will operate with guaranteed multi-year funding settlements and have the flexibility to move funds between years.
As a company, outside of the civil service but inside the public sector, the SHC will have more autonomy over its internal governance arrangements and delivery processes so that it can respond to business needs more effectively.
The Government is continuing to work through the details of its relationship with the SHC to provide the necessary commercial freedom to boost delivery and improve efficiency, whilst ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.
The rights of existing HA staff will be protected in accordance with TUPE principles.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2013, Official Report, column 335W, on the Merchant Shipping (Diving Safety) Regulations 2002, whether it is still his policy to pursue revocation of the regulations.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
It is still our policy to revoke the Merchant Shipping (Diving Safety) Regulations 2002.
There have been no specific discussions between Ministers or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regarding the implications for diver safety or revoking the regulations since May 2013. However, the proposal was raised by the MCA at a meeting with HSE's Offshore Division in July 2013 to consider a range of regulatory issues affecting the offshore sector, and it was agreed to discuss in more detail as the proposals are developed, and prior to any changes to the regulations.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2013, Official Report, column 335W, on the Merchant Shipping (Diving Safety) Regulations 2002, what discussions (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have held with the Health and Safety Executive regarding the implications for diver safety or revoking the regulations; and what the outcomes were of those discussions.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
It is still our policy to revoke the Merchant Shipping (Diving Safety) Regulations 2002.
There have been no specific discussions between Ministers or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regarding the implications for diver safety or revoking the regulations since May 2013. However, the proposal was raised by the MCA at a meeting with HSE's Offshore Division in July 2013 to consider a range of regulatory issues affecting the offshore sector, and it was agreed to discuss in more detail as the proposals are developed, and prior to any changes to the regulations.