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Written Question
Aviation: Licensing
Thursday 28th February 2019

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) private, (b) commercial and (c) air transport pilot licences the CAA issued in 2018.

Answered by Jesse Norman

LICENCES

Initial Issue

Re-Issue/Renewal/Revalidation

Private

2018

1361

Commercial

847

59

Air Transport

906

68


Written Question
Air Space
Wednesday 31st October 2018

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the merits (a) of the proposals of the Civil Aviation Authority on changing class E airspace procedures and (b) made of the compliance of those proposed procedures with cap 1616 processes.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Government has made no such assessments.

However, as the Government continues to modernise UK airspace, there is an increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, the Department is working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.

Any proposal to change the UK’s airspace design will need to be assessed according to the CAA’s own airspace change process, which is set out in CAP1616. This includes the need to consult with all those who may be affected by the proposal.


Written Question
Airspace
Wednesday 31st October 2018

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the merits (a) of the proposals of the Civil Aviation Authority on changing class E airspace procedures and (b) made of the compliance of those proposed procedures with cap 1616 processes.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Government has made no such assessments.

However, as the Government continues to modernise UK airspace, there is an increasing need to enable the safe integration, rather than segregation, of all aircraft. This is why, as part of the Aviation Strategy, the Department is working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explore a new policy on mandating electronic identification for all users.

Any proposal to change the UK’s airspace design will need to be assessed according to the CAA’s own airspace change process, which is set out in CAP1616. This includes the need to consult with all those who may be affected by the proposal.


Written Question
Air Space
Monday 29th October 2018

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will request that the outcome of the Civil Aviation Authority's consultation on changing Class E airspace procedures be shared with his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jesse Norman

There has not been a specific consultation launched on changing Class E airspace by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) but airspace users have asked about its use.

The department has a close working relationship with the CAA and documents are routinely shared. This would include any outcome of the information request about Class E.


Written Question
Airspace
Monday 29th October 2018

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will request that the outcome of the Civil Aviation Authority's consultation on changing Class E airspace procedures be shared with his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jesse Norman

There has not been a specific consultation launched on changing Class E airspace by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) but airspace users have asked about its use.

The department has a close working relationship with the CAA and documents are routinely shared. This would include any outcome of the information request about Class E.


Written Question
Railways: Wellingborough
Monday 12th March 2018

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people expected to travel by train north from Wellingborough each day (a) in peak and (b) off-peak time in (i) March 2018, (ii) June 2018 and (iii) December 2019.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone

The Department does not hold figures to this level of detail.

However our estimates based on ticket sales data is that on an average c.900 people travelled south from Wellingborough to St Pancras in 2015-16 (across the whole day), and c.300 people travelled north from Wellingborough to main stations on the Midland Mainline in 2015-16 (across the whole day). Of these passengers approximately 45% were travelling to Kettering or Corby, with the balance travelling to Market Harborough or beyond.

Our growth forecast across the whole East Midlands franchise (not specifically from Wellingborough) from that date until 2019 is c 6%.


Written Question
Railways: Wellingborough
Monday 12th March 2018

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people expected to travel by train from Wellingborough to St Pancras each day in (a) peak and (b) off-peak time in (i) March 2018, (ii) June 2018 and (iii) December 2019.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone

The Department does not hold figures to this level of detail.

However our estimates based on ticket sales data is that on an average c.900 people travelled south from Wellingborough to St Pancras in 2015-16 (across the whole day), and c.300 people travelled north from Wellingborough to main stations on the Midland Mainline in 2015-16 (across the whole day). Of these passengers approximately 45% were travelling to Kettering or Corby, with the balance travelling to Market Harborough or beyond.

Our growth forecast across the whole East Midlands franchise (not specifically from Wellingborough) from that date until 2019 is c 6%.


Written Question
Railways: Wellingborough
Monday 12th March 2018

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that Wellingborough Station becomes the interchange hub for intercity trains traveling north.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone

The Government and rail industry are investing in the biggest improvement in rail travel since the Victorian era, including through the upgrade of the Midland Main Line. This programme will improve rail journeys for passengers using the Midland Main Line to travel to and from London St Pancras. Once electrification of the Midland Main Line to Corby is complete in 2020, passengers at Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton and Luton Airport Parkway will benefit from a new, dedicated, fast commuter service into London St Pancras. The electric trains will be longer, with more seats.

All options for rail services in the next East Midlands rail franchise are subject to analysis of the potential benefits and our consultation with stakeholders, which closed on 11 October 2017. Northbound connectivity on Midland Main Line intercity services was raised as a particular concern in the public consultation. On the basis of that feedback we are reviewing the proposed stopping patterns to attempt to maintain as many of those journey opportunities as possible.

No decisions have yet been made on rail services that will be specified for the next franchise. The next franchise is planned to start in August 2019. Invitations to Tender are due to be issued to potential bidders later this year. The ITT will set out the minimum requirements and provide the baseline that we expect the next franchise to build on.


Written Question
East Midlands Rail Franchise
Monday 13th November 2017

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the seating capacity provided by the Meridian and HST trains servicing the East Midlands franchise and bi-mode trains which will replace those trains.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

When we release the Invitation to Tender for the next East Midlands Franchise, the minimum on-train capacity requirements for the franchise will be considered in the specification for the bidders. It will then be for the successful bidder for the next East Midlands Franchise to fulfil and exceed these requirements.


Written Question
Railways: Bedfordshire
Tuesday 7th November 2017

Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the line speeds are for the (a) newly installed sections north of Bedford to Corby and (b) existing electric infrastructure south of Bedfordshire into London St. Pancras.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The new lines between Bedford and Corby will support speeds of up to 125mph for passenger trains. The existing lines between St Pancras and Bedford currently support speeds of up to 100 mph for electric passenger trains, and we are developing plans to adjust the Overhead Line Equipment on this section in order to enable the new trains coming into service on the Midland Main Line to run at the improved line speeds.