Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age of rolling stock serving the (a) Tees Valley Line and (b) Esk Valley Line is.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
The rolling stock operated on these two lines is a mixture of Class 142 and Class 156 units which were constructed between 1985 and 1989.
However, the age of rolling stock is a crude measure of quality – as a properly planned refurbishment of an older train can result in a very pleasant travelling environment and a "new train feel" but at a fraction of the cost of a new unit.
Information on the average age of rolling stock is available from the Office of Rail Regulation's website, by following this link:
http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/53dcc4e1-3223-48f9-9e9c-10d51359cdd7
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions practical driving tests have been appealed to magistrates' and sheriff courts in each year since 2008; how many such appeals were upheld; and for what reasons.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Since 2008 DVSA holds record of 12 practical driving test appeals that have come before the magistrate's court; we have no record of any practical driving test appeals that have come before the Sheriff's court. None of these appeals were upheld as detailed in the chart below.
| Date and place of hearing | Under S90 or S133 RTA | Outcome |
| 11.06.2008 - Croydon | S133 | Dismissed |
| 27.01.2009 - Bexley Heath | S90 | Dismissed |
| 25.03.2009 - Caernarfon | S133 | Withdrawn |
| 01/06/2009 - UNKNOWN | S90 | Settled without prejudice prior to hearing |
| 15.07.2009 Leicester | S90 | Dismissed |
| 31.07.2009 Leicester | S133 | Withdrawn |
| 5.11.2010 - UNKNOWN | S90 | Failed to attend preliminary hearing |
| 28.02.2011 Coventry | S133 | Withdrawn |
| 13.09.2011 Sheffield | S90 | Not upheld |
| 26.07.2012 Wakefield | S90 | Cancelled preliminary hearing |
| 02.08.2012 Bournemouth | S90 | Withdrawn |
| 11.11.2013 Wolverhampton | S133 | Withdrawn at hearing on judge's advice |
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to paragraph 2,246 of the Budget 2014, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the Scottish Government matchfunding expenditure on a feasibility study on A1 improvements north of Newcastle.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department has committed to undertaking six feasibility studies as part of the process of identifying and funding solutions to tackle some of the most notorious and long-standing road hot spots in the country. The studies include work on the problems on the A1 north of Newcastle.
The Department has commenced conversations with the Scottish Government regarding the offer made as part of the Budget 2014 to extend the study further north into Scotland if the Scottish Government matchfund the costs.
Government expects to report back at Autumn Statement 2014 with solutions to alleviate congestion and tackle the problems on this route.
Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support Durham Tees Valley Airport has received from the Regional Air Connectivity Fund; and whether Durham Tees Valley Airport will benefit from the expansion of this fund announced in the Budget 2014.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department for Transport has received no applications in connection with Durham Tees Valley Airport for the funding set aside in last year's Spending Round for supporting air services. The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that support will be provided for start-up aid for new air routes from the UK's regional airports. The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union aviation State Aid guidelines on start-up aid, and explain how the funding process will work.