Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which of the Government's requirements for lifting the current flight ban between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh have not been met by Egyptian authorities.
Answered by John Hayes
Following the Metrojet crash, the Foreign Office travel advice was changed so that direct air services between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh airport were halted.
We look forward to achieving the return of flights, once we can be assured of there being the necessary secure and sustainable security situation. UK aviation security experts continue to work closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground, sharing their expertise in establishing effective security arrangements. It would not be appropriate to provide details on the specific security measures being taken.
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, approximately how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals are employed cleaning the Westminster estate of his Department.
Answered by John Hayes
The Department does not directly employ any cleaning staff on its Westminster estate. All cleaning staff are employed and managed under outsourced estates and facilities contracts. Information on nationality in such situations is not held by the Department.
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of staff on the payroll of his Department who work in Westminster are (a) British nationals and (b) nationals of another country.
Answered by John Hayes
Many staff self-declare their nationality on the staff system. Evidence of nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as part of wider pre-employment checks and copies of this evidence are held on file for the duration of the person’s employment and for a further two years after they cease working for the department.
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost benefit ratio was of each major railway scheme authorised by the Government since 2010.
Answered by Claire Perry
Benefit Cost Ratios are calculated at many points in time during the lifecycle of a project including to inform a number of specific decision points. Due to changes in appraisal guidance benefit cost ratios calculated at different points in time may not be directly comparable.
The benefit cost ratios for major rail projects with a value over £1bn and currently in delivery are set out in the table. These are based on the BCR at final business case stage or more recently published information where available. The benefit cost ratio of these and other rail schemes will have changed since these assessments were undertaken.
Scheme | Benefit Cost Ratio (excluding Wider Economic Impacts) | Date of Appraisal |
Crossrail | 1.97 | Jul-11 |
IEP | 2.7 | Jan-12 |
Thameslink | 1.42 | Mar-13 |
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost benefit ratio was of the business case for (a) Crossrail, (b) High Speed 2 and (c) the Todmorden Curves.
Answered by Claire Perry
The latest central case estimate of the benefit cost ratio for the full HS2 Y-network, dating from November 2015 is 2.2. Excluding wider economic impacts (WEIs) it is 1.8.
The benefit cost ratio for Crossrail was assessed in July 2011 and was estimated at 3.09. Excluding wider economic impacts the benefit cost ratio was estimated to be 1.97.
The Todmorden curve was a locally promoted scheme that received funding through the Regional Growth Fund, the Department does not hold the information requested on this scheme.
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what statutory arrangements are in place to penalise rail franchises which consistently perform poorly; and how often such arrangements have been called on since 2010.
Answered by Claire Perry
Section 55 of the Railways Act 1993 (as amended) gives the Secretary of State power to make an Enforcement Order where a train operator contravenes a term of the franchise agreement. Such an Order may require the train operator to take specified steps to address the contravention and can include a requirement to pay a penalty if the Train Operator contravenes the Order.
Section 57A of the Railways Act 1993 (as amended) gives the Secretary of State a separate power to impose a penalty for contravention of a term of the franchise agreement as an alternative to making an Enforcement Order or in addition to such an Order (provided that the Order does not include a penalty provision).
Since 2010 no train operator has been required to make a payment for breach of an Enforcement Order under section 55. Some 13 Enforcement Orders under Section 55 have been issued, and one train operator has been required to make a penalty payment imposed under section 57A.
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the criteria are by which his Department measures the level of service provided by rail franchises operating.
Answered by Claire Perry
Depending on the franchise, we measure the level of services provided by the performance against the set benchmarks (capacity, cancellations and delay minutes), and/or the Public Performance Measure. Some franchises are also measured against the National Passenger Survey results.
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is giving to encourage the use of hydrogen fuel cells in transport.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have the potential to play an important role in decarbonising road transport, alongside battery electric vehicles. Government began work with industry in 2012, in the “UK H2 Mobility” programme, to develop a roadmap on hydrogen for transport.
In March last year we announced £6.6m investment in 12 initial hydrogen refuelling stations. We are working with stakeholders on options to support the wider roll-out of hydrogen in transport.
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) funds and (b) grants his Department makes available for the refurbishment or improvement of railway stations.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department for Transport currently operates a number of schemes that makes funds available to enhance facilities at stations.
The Access for All programme and the Small Schemes fund provide improvements in accessibility. The National Stations Improvement Programme and Stations Commercial Project Facility are designed to deliver enhancements to passenger facilities. The New Station Fund has been established to help fund the construction of new stations.
Asked by: John Pugh (Liberal Democrat - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of plans to continue the use of Pacer trains on the Northern franchise.
Answered by Claire Perry
We are committed to improving services for passengers across the North of England. Pacers fall short of passengers’ expectations. As the Prime Minister has said, we will be asking bidders for the Northern franchise to propose plans to phase these outdated trains out. All franchise competitions are evaluated for quality as well as cost.
In presenting his Autumn Statement to Parliament, the Chancellor said that in the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises Pacers would be replaced and that new and modern trains would be introduced.