Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the legislative basis is for enforcement agencies to measure the noise level being emitted from a motor vehicle.
Answered by John Hayes
Anyone who uses a vehicle in such as manner as to cause excessive noise, but which is avoidable through reasonable driver care, is guilty of an offence under Regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986, as amended. Enforcement Authorities also have powers to address noise nuisance under the Police Reform Act 2002 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the completion of the dualling programme for the A30/A303 link road.
Answered by John Hayes
The Road Investment Strategy announced Government’s intention to upgrade the remaining sections of the A303 between the M3 and the A358 near Ilminster to dual carriageway standard, together with creating a dual carriageway link from the M5 at Taunton to the A303. It also set aside funding for smaller-scale improvements to the A303/A30 section between Ilminster and Honiton, for which Highways England has commissioned a study.
Three major schemes have commenced, including improvement of the section past Stonehenge between Amesbury and Berwick Down. Highways England launched a consultation on the Stonehenge tunnel proposal on 12 January 2017.
Implementation of the programme to transform the A303 route will run beyond the first Road Period (2015-2020) and subsequent Road Investment Strategies will fund the remaining improvements.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what mandatory requirements his Department places on train operating companies to conduct public consultations on reductions to services.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Franchise Agreement specifies the minimum requirements for train operators to conduct public consultations on significant alterations to train services (which can be additions or reductions). These are usually aligned to timetable change dates in May and December each year and are associated with major changes to the Timetable, with length of consultation related to the nature of the complexity of any proposed changes. Major proposed changes to the permanent train service specification (and associated timetable) require longer periods for consultation with stakeholders (usually at least 12 weeks) and must include bodies statutorily defined within the Railways Act 2005, such as Transport Focus.
Temporary, short-term changes to the timetable, due to restrictions of use imposed by the need of Network Rail to undertake engineering work (planned and unplanned) to the rail network, are not subject to consultation requirements. However, the Franchise Agreement specifies requirements upon train operating companies to advise passengers of amended timetable information well in advance to enable them to plan their journeys accordingly.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether officials of his Department are in negotiations with Arriva-CrossCountry Trains on renewing that company's franchise on the Manchester to Birmingham to Devon route.
Answered by Paul Maynard
As the CrossCountry franchise has recently been awarded, officials are not in negotiation with CrossCountry about renewing the franchise for the Manchester to Birmingham to Devon route.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Arriva-CrossCountry Trains franchise agreement for the Manchester to Birmingham to Devon route ends.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The CrossCountry Direct Award commenced on 16 October 2016 and expires on 13 October 2019. The Manchester to Birmingham to Devon route would then be considered as part of the next franchise.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether progress has been made on plans to build a new railway station in Edginswell, Torbay.
Answered by Paul Maynard
It is for local bodies who are responsible for local transport planning, in conjunction with the Local Enterprise Partnerships to determine if opening a new station and funding passenger rail services is the best way to address local public transport needs and economic growth opportunities. In this case the Department understands that plans for a new station at Edginswell are currently being considered locally.
We are keen to support new railway stations and have made up to £20m of New Stations funding available. Bids need to be received by 25 November and need to be reasonably well developed with at least 25% third party funding contribution by 2019/20.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make plans to introduce number plates for all mobility scooters to ensure that such scooters could be traced in the event of a collision with a pedestrian.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Mobility scooters have to comply with the prescribed conditions and requirements set out in the ‘Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988’ which divides them into two main categories.
The Class 2 type can travel at 4mph and is primarily intended for use on the footway or footpath. 4 mph is considered appropriate for pavement use as it is akin to a brisk walking pace.
The Class 3 type can travel on the road at up to 8 mph, but must have the facility via a limiter to be driven at no more than 4 mph when used on the footpath.
Users of new or second hand Class 3 vehicles are required to register their vehicles with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for use on public roads. However, there is currently no requirement to display the vehicle registration number on the scooter and I have no plans to change this.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on improving the resilience of the railway to Torbay and the South West.
Answered by Claire Perry
Network Rail spent £40 million repairing and strengthening the line at Dawlish after the severe weather in 2014, and in order to try prevent the kind of damage to the railway that happened in 2014 from happening again, £31 million is also going into improving the resilience of the Great Western route.
Options for maintaining a resilient rail service to the Southwest Peninsula were presented by Network Rail to the Secretary of State in July 2014. The options will influence the next industry plan in 2016 and inform the Government’s rail investment strategy for 2019-2024.
Network Rail is progressing work on the existing rail route via Dawlish to ensure that future route failure is avoided.
Asked by: Kevin Foster (Conservative - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with Network Rail and First Great Western on improving the rail service to Torbay and the South West.
Answered by Claire Perry
Since December 2013, services on the 20 minute journey from Newton Abbot to Paignton have operated approximately every half an hour, an improvement on the previous hourly service with an additional 12 trains per day. The additional service was promoted by Torbay and Devon County Council and part funded by an EU grant.
There are long standing aspirations to maintain and expand this service supported by recommendations in Network Rail’s Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS). The Department’s Rail Executive is in ongoing discussions with First Great Western and Network Rail about the continuation and expansion of this service and responses to our 2014 Great Western consultation showed strong support for this.
In addition, Network Rail continues to focus on the ongoing work as to whether a new or reopened inland route should be constructed to provide a more resilient railway for the South West, in addition to what works are ongoing to improve Dawlish itself.
Options for maintaining a resilient rail service to the Southwest Peninsula were presented by Network Rail to the Secretary of State in July 2014. The options will influence the next industry plan in 2016 and inform the Government’s rail investment strategy for 2019-2024.
Network Rail is progressing work on the existing rail route via Dawlish to ensure that future route failure is avoided.