Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) compensation and (b) care and assistance expenses that passengers are entitled to claim for in cases of significant flight delays.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government remains committed to protecting the rights of passengers when travelling by air.
Regulation (EC) 261/2004 as retained in UK law establishes common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of long delays, cancellations or denied boarding. In June 2023, the Department published its response to the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation. This set out a commitment to further consultation on the compensation and payment framework across all forms of disruption including cancellations, delays and denied boarding. Furthermore, a Statutory Instrument came into force in the UK on 14 December 2023 to re-state certain EU case law principles in respect of Regulation (EC) 261/2004, to ensure passengers continued to be protected through additional clarity of their rights in the event of flight disruptions.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing funding for Stockport railway station on the local economy.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government believes that Stockport is best placed to decide on and take forward transport schemes that will most benefit their local areas. I would therefore encourage the local stakeholders in the area to work together to bring forward a bid(s) to be considered for development under the various sources of funding available.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to introduce step-free access at Heaton Chapel Station.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The platforms at Heaton Chapel are accessible by ramp. There is not currently a lift, but Rail North Partnership (RNP) works closely with Northern Trains, Network Rail, Transport for the North and its members, including Transport for Greater Manchester, to identify opportunities to improve access to stations for every passenger in the North as part of the operator’s Annual Business Planning process.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2024 to Question 14383 on Avanti West Coast: Catering, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Avanti West Coast's planned end to cash payments for onboard catering to revenue.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Catering services are a commercial matter for each train operating company. Train operators are responsible for considering the equality impacts of operational changes such as to catering payment methods, and are expected by the Department to take local needs into account.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2024 to Question 14383 on Avanti West Coast: Catering, whether his permission was required in order for Avanti West Coast to progress its proposed end to cash payments for its onboard catering services.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Catering services are a commercial matter for each train operating company. Train operators are responsible for considering the equality impacts of operational changes such as to catering payment methods, and are expected by the Department to take local needs into account.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons his Department is yet to publish its response to the consultation entitled Pavement parking: options for change.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department received over 15,000 responses covering tens of thousands of open comments. Each one has been read and considered, and we are continuing to work through the policy options and the legislative choices for delivering them. We want to take the right steps for communities and ensure that local authorities have appropriate and effective tools at their disposal. As soon as the Department has determined this approach, we will publish our formal response.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require train companies to hold a public consultation before withdrawing the use of cash from catering services.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Catering services are a commercial matter for each train operating company. Train operators are responsible for considering the equality impacts of operational changes such as to catering payment methods, and are expected by the Department to take local needs into account.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2024 to Question 12442 on Cross Country Trains: Overcrowding, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) overcrowding, (b) delays and (c) cancellations on Cross Country rail services.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
(a) The Department has authorised CrossCountry to acquire additional trains when they become available from another operator. CrossCountry is also authorised to deploy a number of these trains in 2024 if they can be made available. (b)(c) Train service performance by CrossCountry over recent months has been affected by heavy rain and storms that impact on railway infrastructure causing delays and cancellations, although they are held to account for factors under their control.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to introduce step-free access at Brinnington Station.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In 2022 we asked the industry to nominate stations for the next round of Access for All funding which the Prime Minister confirmed in October will be worth £350m. Brinnington station was not nominated and therefore will not be eligible for this funding. We are not aware of any other planned work at the station that would require compliance with current accessibility standards.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2024 to Question 12442 on Cross Country Trains: Overcrowding, how many times Ministers from his Department met Cross Country Trains to discuss overcrowding and cancellations on Cross Country rail services in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In line with the terms of the applicable contract, officials from the Department meet with CrossCountry Directors to discuss train service performance (including the level of cancellations and crowding) and other contractual matters:
(a) at least every four weeks in 2023 with additional meetings from time to time
(b) four times since 1 January 2024.