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Written Question
Railways: North of England
Wednesday 28th October 2020

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to proceed with the electrification of a Transpennine rail route from Manchester to Leeds; which towns and cities they plan to serve by such a route; and when such work would commence.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

In July 2020, the Government released £589m of funding for design and development work to upgrade and electrify the Transpennine main line from Manchester to York via Huddersfield and Leeds, under the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme (TRU). This will enable electrification designs to be worked up for the sections between Manchester and Stalybridge, Huddersfield and Leeds, as well as Church Fenton and York. The Integrated Rail Plan also considers the case for TRU to deliver full Manchester to York electrification, with construction decisions to be taken once TRU’s full business case is approved.


Written Question
Heathrow Airport: Coronavirus
Wednesday 13th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what applications or approaches have been made for financial assistance relating to the COVID-19 pandemic by Heathrow Airport Ltd since 1 March.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The aviation sector is important to the UK economy and the government recognises the challenging times facing the sector as a result of COVID-19. The aviation sector will be able to draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees and VAT deferrals. It would not be appropriate to comment in individual cases.

The Department is continuing to work closely with the sector and has been clear that if individual companies find themselves in trouble as a result of coronavirus and have exhausted the measures already available to them, including raising capital from existing investors, then we are prepared to enter discussions with individual companies seeking bespoke support as a last resort. However, any intervention would need to represent value for money for taxpayers.


Written Question
Public Transport: Coronavirus
Wednesday 13th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost to Her Majesty's Treasury of running train and bus services, under new arrangements put in place by the Government since the outbreak of COVID-19, in the month to 25 April, or until the latest date for which they can make an assessment.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Government has approved £3.5 billion of additional expenditure to ensure that vital rail services continue to operate. From this additional expenditure, £2.9 billion relates to the 2020/21 financial year. It is not yet possible to provide an estimate of the total cost incurred to date.

In respect to bus services, the Government has made available up to £167 million of new funding over twelve weeks under the new COVID-19 Bus Services Support Grant (CBSSG), of which over £7 million has been paid to local transport authorities and over £41 million to bus operators as of 12 May.


Written Question
Public Transport: Coronavirus
Wednesday 13th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have requested, or required, reductions in executive remuneration, bonuses and other executive benefits in return for additional subsidies of train and bus operators to operate services granted since 1 March; if not, whether they intend to do so; and if so, what such reductions have been or will be.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

To bring stability and certainty to the industry during this turbulent time, private sector train operating companies have seen a temporary suspension of their existing franchise agreements’ financial mechanisms, and all revenue and cost risk has been transferred to the Government. Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) commenced on 1 April 2020 (effective as of 1 March 2020) for an initial period of six months.

Under the EMAs, whilst basic pay will continue at the same levels as before the EMAs were agreed, any bonuses, rewards or discretionary benefits paid to any staff, directors or officers under any schemes which have not previously been approved by the Secretary of State in writing, are viewed as a disallowable cost.

In relation to bus operators, the COVID-19 Bus Services Support Grant (CBSSG) is designed to help bus operators cover the costs of operating an appropriate service level during the COVID-19 period. Executive remuneration and payouts are a disallowable expense for the purposes of this grant scheme.


Written Question
London North Eastern Railway: Pay
Thursday 28th June 2018

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what salaries will be paid to (1) the chief executive of the new public East Coast rail operator, and (2) the next four most highly paid executives.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

Remuneration packages for the Board of London North Eastern Railway will be published in due course as part of the normal disclosures in the company annual accounts.


Written Question
London North Eastern Railway
Thursday 28th June 2018

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be a chairman of the new public East Coast company; and if so, who they propose for this post.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

Robin Gisby is the new Chair of London North Eastern Railway.


Written Question
London North Eastern Railway
Thursday 28th June 2018

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the top five executives of the current Virgin Trains East Coast company will transfer to the public East Coast rail operator when it assumes responsibility; and if not, what staffing changes, if any, they propose.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

All staff who currently have an employment contract with Virgin Trains East Coast, including the Executive Directors, fall within the scope of the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employee Regulations (TUPE). Under TUPE, all staff have been offered the opportunity to transfer to London North Eastern Railway (LNER).


Written Question
East Coast Railway Line
Monday 18th December 2017

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which delays by Network Rail undertaking infrastructure improvements on the East Coast Main Line were a legitimate basis for the existing East Coast franchise operator to seek to reduce premium payments contracted under that franchise; and by what amount that franchise will be reduced in each year until 2023.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

The East Coast franchise was awarded to Virgin Trains East Coast following a fair and open competition and has already delivered significant passenger benefits. The Operator has met its obligations to date to provide premium payments to HM Government as contracted. The contract includes an enhanced East Coast timetable from May 2020 - reflecting the anticipated Network Rail enhancements to the line - and a process for revising premium payments from that date if the Operator, despite its best efforts, is unsuccessful in obtaining all the rights it needs. The exact adjustments to the premium depend on the extent of the enhanced services which the Operator is able to run from May 2020.

From 2020 we intend to let the East Coast Partnership as one of the first of a new generation of integrated regional rail operations. This will be subject to a competitive process, and will include appropriate contributions paid from the private partner to the government. It is therefore not possible to specify what amount the current East Coast franchise will be reduced in each year until 2023, as it will be superseded by the East Coast Partnership.


Written Question
Railways: Franchises
Friday 15th December 2017

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which external consultants were engaged to assist or advise on the new policy on rail franchising announced on 29 November.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

The Department for Transport sought advice from Arup, KMPG, Oxera, PwC, Roland Berger and SDG in relation to the rail franchising policies announced on 29 November.


Written Question
Railways: Franchises
Friday 15th December 2017

Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they made of the impact on the budget of the Department for Transport of the changes to the franchising regime announced on 29 November; and whether the Department agreed those changes in advance with Her Majesty’s Treasury.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

We work with Her Majesty’s Treasury on all issues that affect significant public spending and budget allowance.

At Her Majesty’s Government, investment decisions are made based on a rigorous and fair appraisal process that ensures spending goes to the projects and programmes where it is most needed and delivers greatest value-for-money for both taxpayers and passengers.

We are always looking for the best ways to achieve value for money for the tax payer and the best results for passengers. Announced reforms will build on the best of the public and private sectors, with private sector involvement bringing innovation, investment and competition.