Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the original estimate for the cost of the current repair works to the Wentbridge Viaduct on the A1; and what they expect the final cost to be.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The original estimate for the Wentbridge Viaduct was £5,403,583, however, at present the expected cost for the works is £16,079,669. The change in costs is due to significant change of scope as additional essential repairs were identified, including but not limited to reconstruction of both deck ends, extensive renewal of drainage throughout the structure, replacement of the Vehicle Restraint System foundation plinths, repairs to the underslung hanger walkway, repairs to deck haunches and concrete repairs to the abutments, all of which were not known nor could have been identified until the existing bridge deck was exposed.
National Highways began the enabling works and upgrading Jacksons Lane on 24 February 2023 but the main works on the carriageway commenced on 11 April 2023 with an expected completion date of September 2023. The current expected completion at Wentbridge Viaduct is Spring 2025. This is in part due to the decision to bring forward the Wentedge road bridge works originally planned to be undertaken in 2026 so that they can be completed at the same time due to the proximity of the two structures, and this will minimise long term disruption while ensuring that both works are completed efficiently. Works to both structures is now expected to be completed by August 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to providing a standing charge relief for electric vehicle (EV) charge point operators connecting in rural areas; and what other incentives they are considering to improve the network of EV charge points, particularly in rural areas.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The setting of standing charges associated with tariffs is a commercial matter for suppliers, and suppliers have the flexibility in how they structure their tariffs. Ofgem regulates standing charges, as they do with other elements of billing. The Government is pleased that Ofgem is considering the issue of standing charges through their recent Call for Input and industry led working groups. Solutions would be implemented across electric vehicle (EV) charging sites, including those situated in rural areas.
Our £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund aims to address regional charging inequality and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers. The data-led allocation model to award funding considers the level of rurality with local authorities in rural areas allocated additional funding compared to urban ones.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made on the impact on the Motor Insurers' Bureau of accidents caused by pedal bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters in the absence of any insurance cover.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We have made no assessment of the impact on the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) of incidents involving e-bikes and e-scooters. However, pedal cycles and Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) do not require insurance, so they have no impact on the MIB.
The Government regularly meets with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to discuss issues around micromobility insurance.
Asked by: Lord Sharkey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of competition on cross-Solent ferry routes to and from the Isle of Wight in delivering fair consumer pricing.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Assessments regarding the effectiveness of competition on cross-Solent ferry services are a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority, which is independent of the Government. Decisions on which markets to investigate sit with its board.
The Department continues to engage directly with key stakeholders, including Islanders and ferry companies.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department plans to take with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce violence against women and girls on public transport.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), and we have set out our unprecedented mission to halve it within a decade. Achieving this means concerted work on prevention and overhauling every aspect of society’s response to these devastating crimes.
The Department for Transport is working across government to address these issues. We are also piloting Transport Safety Officers in five areas in England, including officers specifically trained to respond to incidents of VAWG.
The Department also continues to work closely with transport partners, including the British Transport Police, on a range of initiatives to address the problems faced by all passengers, on the transport network. This includes the Railway Guardian app which provides safety advice, links to partner organisations and enables reporting of incidents to the force directly. BTP uses specialist teams of plain clothed and uniformed officers across the network to target and identify offenders. It also uses enhanced patrols, with a directed, intelligence-led focus around the nighttime economy, providing high visibility presence to reassure rail staff and the public.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Reform UK - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many positions in her Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport does not routinely collate information on specific words and collating this information would come at a disproportionate cost. Information on spending and staffing can be found in the Department's annual report and accounts.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve transport links in West Yorkshire.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My Department is committed to improving transport links in West Yorkshire, and across the country. West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has been allocated £830m of City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements funding over a five-year period, to help transform local transport into an integrated and inclusive network. Included in the investment is £160m set aside for mass transit development in West Yorkshire.
WYCA has also received £13.373m of additional Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding for 2024/2025, helping deliver their vision for better buses in West Yorkshire. The Department’s Buses Bill will support WYCA in their vision to bring buses back under local control, ensuring their networks can meet the needs of the communities who rely on them.
Additionally, as part of improving rail connectivity in West Yorkshire and the rest of the country, we have established Shadow Great British Railways to bring a major overhaul of the rail network, putting passengers first and driving up performance.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to extend the £2 bus fare cap beyond 31 December 2024.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of the government’s top priorities and we know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The Department for Transport is looking at the future of the £2 fare cap as a matter of urgency, and is considering the most appropriate and affordable approach for the future of the scheme.
Asked by: Simon Opher (Labour - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that transport infrastructure in the M5 corridor north of Bristol is developed in a way that allows housing targets in the Stroud district council local plan to be achieved.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the need to ensure that housing growth is appropriately supported by transport infrastructure provision. I am unable to comment on specific proposals, it is for the local authority in consultation with infrastructure providers to determine the infrastructure requirements to support proposed growth in local plans. National Highways has worked collaboratively with the local council throughout the Local Plan process and continues to work constructively with them.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the Aylesbury spur of the East-West Rail link for the (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) UK economy.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Along with East West Rail Company and Network Rail, the Department for Transport is considering the merits of providing an East West Rail link to Aylesbury, and shared both cost information and the results of business case analysis with the local authority. A final decision will be made in due course.