Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the number of platforms at the Euston HS2 terminus on commuters.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Following the rephasing of works at Euston announced in March 2023, work commenced on developing an affordable and deliverable scheme for the HS2 Euston Station including looking at options to reduce the number of platforms to match expected levels of service over time. This will continue under the new arrangements for Euston announced as part of Network North.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the number of platforms at the Euston HS2 terminus on station capacity.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Following the rephasing of works at Euston announced in March 2023, work commenced on developing an affordable and deliverable scheme for the HS2 Euston Station including looking at options to reduce the number of platforms to match expected levels of service over time. This will continue under the new arrangements for Euston announced as part of Network North.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the methodology on the basis of which he has concluded Euston HS2 station can be delivered without public funding.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Network North paper published by the Department for Transport on 4 October 2023 sets out that we will appoint a development company, separate from HS2 Ltd, to manage the delivery of this project. We will also take on the lessons of success stories such as Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, which secured £9 billion of private sector investment and thousands of homes. So we will harness the future growth that the station will unleash to support its development, to ensure we get the best possible value for the British taxpayer - and ensure that funding is underpinned by contributions from those people and businesses its development supports.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support consumers affected by flight cancellations in summer 2023.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department has been clear with industry partners that they should ensure passengers receive the best possible service and are provided with the support they need in the event of disruption.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for ensuring that airlines are meeting their obligations under the legislation that sets out air passenger rights. It continues to monitor industry performance, and will take action where required.
It is very important that passengers understand their rights. This is why the Department published the Aviation Passenger Charter in July 2022. The Charter provides passengers with information needed for each stage of their journey, including if something goes wrong.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on reforms to its enforcement powers.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The recent public body review of the CAA made 24 recommendations including in relation to enforcement. DfT officials discuss implementing these recommendations with the CAA regularly. The Department published its response to the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform consultation on 27 June 2023, which included a commitment to legislate when parliamentary time allows to provide the CAA with additional administrative powers. The Department will work closely with the CAA on the design of those powers to make sure they are effective and proportionate. A review of safety enforcement powers last took place in 2022; further work is needed to evaluate properly and fully the available options and to consider any additional engagement or consultation needed to understand the implications of any changes to current policy. Any changes agreed will be implemented as part of our joint DfT CAA rulemaking programme.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to consult (a) consumer and (b) passenger groups on proposed reforms to the powers of the Civil Aviation Authority.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department consulted in January 2022 on a range of aviation consumer issues, including whether to provide the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with additional powers to enforce aviation consumer rights.
The Department published its response to that consultation on 27 June 2023, which included a commitment to legislate when parliamentary time allows to provide the CAA with additional administrative powers. Further informal consultation with stakeholders may be required on the design of these powers.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Seafarers in the UK Shipping Industry: 2022, published on 10 May 2023, whether he plans to undertake a review into the (a) training and (b) employment of UK seafarers.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department is working with the Maritime Skills Commission to address the recommendations from its 2021 review of training for officer cadets.
In June 2022 the Government announced a review of ratings training, barriers, opportunities, and areas for growth. Government will work with the Maritime Skills Commission on findings that emerge from this review.
The Seafarers in the UK Shipping Industry report is updated annually, and the next planned update is scheduled for early 2024
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) value and (b) duration is of the contract between his Department and KPMG for research into internet connectivity for seafarers.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The total contract value is £95,000. The contract was designed to run from 19th December 2022 - 28th February 2023, with provision built in to enable work to be extended if required at no additional cost to the department.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2022 to Question 107115, if he will list the organisations represented by the five external maritime consultants on the UK delegation to the 79th session of the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Five representatives were registered for this session comprised of: one from academia; two from the UK Chamber of Shipping; and two from Lloyd’s Register.
Asked by: Mike Kane (Labour - Wythenshawe and Sale East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who the members were of the UK delegation to the 79th session of the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The UK’s delegation to the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO’s) Marine Environment Protection Committee 79th session is led by Katy Ware, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the IMO. She is support by 15 officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, 12 from the Department for Transport, four from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, two from HM Treasury and five external maritime consultants.