Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plan to reply to the letter of 29 June 2021 from the hon. Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys on excessive vehicle exhaust noise.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department’s records indicate that a response to your letter of 29 June 2021 on excessive vehicle exhaust noise was issued on 5 July 2021 from Baroness Vere of Norbiton.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) period of time of track possessions undertaken by Network Rail consequential to the reduced passenger timetable as a result of the covid-19 outbreak; and what assessment he has made of the effect that those track possessions have had on the (i) Public Performance Measure and (ii) volume of delay minutes in the most recent quarter for which those figures are available.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
While no estimate had been made, as part of Network Rail’s business as usual monitoring of the progress of its engineering work, of the number and period of time of track possessions undertaken consequential to the reduced passenger timetable as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak prior to this point, Network Rail has so far undertaken 38 additional possessions of various lengths, from single nights to two-week blocks. Opportunities to extend possessions have also been taken advantage of, such as the cancellation of first or last trains, or where services were thinned. The independent rail regulator, the Office for Rail and Road, has assessed Network Rail as having shown a strong response to the pandemic and that it has responded well to its challenges, in particular re-planning work to ensure continued and effective delivery throughout the past 12 months.
We do not hold information on the effect of track possessions on performance. The latest national public performance measure for the period 7 February to 6 March 2021 is 92.6%, compared with 83.9% for the same period last year.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason public service obligation flights from Londonderry to London are transferring from Southend to Stansted airport.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Department’s priority in funding the public service obligation (PSO) is to ensure that a service is maintained between City of Derry Airport and London. It is for the local authority, in conjunction with the airline, to determine how best to operate the service according to their objectives, including the choice of London airport.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2020 to Question 25061, on Aviation: Allergies, what steps has the Government taken over the past 12 months to provide improved clarity and consistency on how airlines operating in the UK assist nut allergy sufferers.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government continues to work with industry on this important consumer issue to ensure that passengers with nut allergies are safe and confident to fly.
The Government is continuing to develop a strategic framework for the recovery of the aviation sector, which will consider consumer issues.