Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse was of spending on railway station lift maintenance in (a) 2014 and (b) 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail reported that in 2013/14 it spent £4.2 million maintaining 1127 lift assets, compared to £8.3 million in 2023/24 to maintain 1516 lift assets.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the number of days when lifts were out of service at (a) underground and (b) overground stations in (i) 2014 and (ii) 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not hold this information as transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL is responsible for managing the London Underground and the London Overground.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) underground and (b) overground railway station lifts were in place in (a) 2014 and (b) 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not hold this information as transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL is responsible for managing the London Underground and the London Overground.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to tackle illegal pavement parking.
Answered by Richard Holden - Opposition Whip (Commons)
We undertook a consultation on the options to tackle pavement parking outside London. We are currently working through the policy options and the possible legislative opportunities for delivering them and as soon as those matters are certain we will publish our formal response. I can assure you this is a priority for us and that we will announce next steps for policy as soon as possible.
The formal consultation response will be available to view at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1984, councils outside London have the power to prohibit pavement parking by introducing local laws through Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs); and the Department looks to local authorities to use these traffic management powers where problems occur.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of imposing a green levy on private jet flights.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The aviation sector, including business aviation, is important for the whole of the UK economy and supports connectivity, direct economic activity, trade, investment and jobs.
The Department is taking measures to reduce emissions from aviation. Its Jet Zero Strategy sets out how the sector can achieve net zero aviation by 2050 without requiring additional government interventions to limit aviation growth, by focusing on new fuels and technology.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing signage at level-crossings to help tackle vehicle idling.
Answered by Richard Holden - Opposition Whip (Commons)
The Department has made no such assessment. Drivers are required to learn the Highway Code and rule 123 relates to unnecessary engine running. The rule states:
"You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road. Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution. However, it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.”
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve safety for (a) road users and (b) pedestrians in Ealing Central and Acton constituency.
Answered by Richard Holden - Opposition Whip (Commons)
Local authorities should always make personal and public safety a priority as they develop and deliver their Local Transport Plans. Local knowledge is required to determine what safety measures are appropriate in individual cases, making local authorities best placed to do this. Roads in London are the responsibility of TfL and London Boroughs.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to increase the provision of audio-visual announcements on local bus services for blind and partially sighted people.
Answered by Richard Holden - Opposition Whip (Commons)
We plan to require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain and intend to introduce the Accessible Information Regulations shortly.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to provide (a) universal affordable access to bicycles and (b) grants for e-bike purchase.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department for Transport is currently monitoring and evaluating the impacts of the Fix Your Bike voucher scheme. The Department and Active Travel England will continue to work closely with the cycling industry to take forward any recommendations resulting from the evaluation.
There are no plans to bring forward additional legislative proposals. The Government already supports affordable access to cycles through the Cycle to Work scheme. Active Travel England continues to fund local authority-led cycle loan and share schemes, and is implementing an e-cycle programme to provide e-cycle loan opportunities.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of restarting the Fix Your Bike voucher scheme.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department for Transport is currently monitoring and evaluating the impacts of the Fix Your Bike voucher scheme. The Department and Active Travel England will continue to work closely with the cycling industry to take forward any recommendations resulting from the evaluation.
There are no plans to bring forward additional legislative proposals. The Government already supports affordable access to cycles through the Cycle to Work scheme. Active Travel England continues to fund local authority-led cycle loan and share schemes, and is implementing an e-cycle programme to provide e-cycle loan opportunities.