Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Paid advertising on X was suspended in April 2023 following a SAFE Framework assessment. X is currently used only for organic (non-paid) content to communicate policies and public services.
The Department for Transport has spent £783.30 with X since July 2024.
This includes X Premium and X Premium +, for monitoring of news coverage and discourse, analytics and digital output.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of installing ticket barriers at Hayes station in Kent to help tackle (a) fare evasion and (b) anti-social behaviour.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Since coming into public ownership in 2021, Southeastern Trains have invested significantly in actions to tackle fare evasion and anti-social behaviour, including extra security trained staff at key locations, intelligence led revenue protection exercises, increased onboard ticket checks and increased gate line hours. Southeastern now have one of the lowest levels of ticketless travel across the country.
Installing a new gate line at an ungated station is expensive and therefore train operators prioritise stations that have higher levels of fare evasion and anti-social behaviour. Currently Southeastern Trains are focussing on projects to install gates at Ramsgate and Margate which will be delivered over the next 12-18 months. Southeastern Trains have conducted a high-level survey at Hayes which concluded that the station is suitable for the installation of ticket barriers, however further work is required over the coming months to develop the business case for future gating schemes.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of potential impact of increasing the Dart Charge on the number of daily crossings.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Initial assessments suggest fewer car journeys and more goods vehicle journeys will be made than would have been the case if charges had been left unchanged. Revenue from the charging scheme, net of costs, must be spent on transport projects.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide step-free access at Shortlands rail station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Shortlands rail station already has step free access into the station and to and between each platform via lifts.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide step-free access at Bickley rail station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since 2006, the Access for All (AfA) programme has delivered step free access at more than 260 stations across Britain.
In 2022, the previous government sought nominations from train operators and transport authorities for potential upgrades through the AfA programme. Bickley was not nominated.
The hon member may wish to engage with Transport for London and Southeastern to make that case that Bickley station is a priority in any future rounds of funding.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her policy is on investment in the Dartford Crossing.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Dartford Crossing is one of the most important roads in the UK, used by an average of 150,000 vehicles daily, of which almost 40% are freight vehicles: a much higher proportion than for other major roads. Consequently, significant annual expenditure (£42.2million in 2023/24) goes on operating, maintaining and improving the Crossing, particularly in relation to the older tunnels, which require increasingly intensive maintenance to, for example, the ventilation, electrical and drainage systems.
Additional capacity across the River Thames east of London will be provided by the Lower Thames Crossing, complementing the Dartford Crossing which will remain an essential part of the London Orbital road.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce public spending on Southeastern Railway.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is busy delivering on its plan to overhaul the railways through the creation of Great British Railways, uniting train and track with the focus of delivering for passengers and freight.
In June this year, Southeastern and Network Rail Kent route united under a single leadership team known as South Eastern Railway – a significant step towards the creation of Great British Railways. This more collaborative approach is resulting in greater efficiency with better, faster decisions for customers and taxpayers, and reducing the subsidy required to operate Southeastern.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed Bakerloo Line extension to the London Borough of Bromley on Southeastern rail services in Hayes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We recognise the socio-economic benefits that the proposed Bakerloo Line Extension could offer regionally and nationally, and we want to improve transport and services for passengers. As transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London, it is for them to make decisions on the merits of investment including any upgrade to the Bakerloo Line.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she has taken to encourage bus and train operators to reduce levels of disability hate crime on their services.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government believes that everyone should be able to make journeys on public transport services without fearing that they will become a victim of crime. It is especially concerning that people should experience disability hate crime whilst using buses and trains, and operators must do all they can to challenge such unacceptable behaviour in partnership with relevant authorities.
We introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill which focuses on delivering safe, more reliable bus networks. The Bill sets requirements for mandatory training on how to recognise and respond appropriately to incidents of criminal and anti-social behaviour, on buses for staff, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public or with issues related to the travelling public. This Bill will also extend requirements for relevant bus staff to undertake training relating to disabled passengers.
Provisions in the Bus Services (No 2) Bill would also give all local transport authorities the power to make bus byelaws, which can be enforced by local authority officers on vehicles and at bus stations and stops. This, combined with targeted enforcement, should lead to safer networks. Transport Safety Officers or Transport Safety and Enforcement Officers are also already operating in some areas, including those participating in the Department’s Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour on Transport pilots.
The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales. They take any reports of crime seriously, including disability hate crimes. The BTP works closely with the rail industry, including train operators, to target offenders across the network and ensure it remains a safe environment for passengers and rail staff. The BTP encourage crime to be reported via it is 61016 text number or in an emergency to call 999.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation on the Integrated National Transport Strategy: a call for ideas, published on 28 November 2024.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Department for Transport launched the Integrated National Transport Strategy: a call for ideas on GOV.UK on 28 November 2024, with more information available at the following link - https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/integrated-national-transport-strategy-a-call-for-ideas/integrated-national-transport-strategy-a-call-for-ideas.
The Call for Ideas document is published in line with the Government’s Publishing Accessible Documents guidance and is in HTML format, making it easier for users to read and navigate. The survey for users to respond to is also hosted on an accessible platform and the option to respond via post is provided.
Any requests for an alternative format can be requested by emailing INTS@dft.gov.uk.